"It is wrong for anyone to blame the Opposition for what is going on in Lamu. The only way for the problem to be resolved once and for all is for those who grabbed the land to return it," said Raila on Monday night during an Iftar dinner hosted by Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho in the Arab Boys' grounds.
More than 100 people have been killed by unknown attackers in Lamu in the last one month and property worth millions of shillings, including hotels, reduced to ashes.
Despite the heavy deployment of security personnel in the region, the raiders have continued to make audacious attacks. On Saturday, they arrived at a mosque, introduced themselves as members of al Shaabab, uttered jihadist summons, disarmed police officers who were guarding the mosque, and then went into a farm and harvested maize which they carried away into a forest.
"This issue cannot be resolved militarily or by arresting innocent political leaders. The solution is in the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission Report. Just implement it," Raila declared.
TJRC condemned the Mpeketoni land settlement scheme of the 1960s as “unprocedural, dubious, irregular" and the cause of perpetual tensions in the area.
The TJRC Report, which was handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta last year, also analysed conflicts in Lamu in the context of the Shifta (Kenya-Somali) conflict of the 1960s.
The commissioners also factored in historically-rooted threats to peace posed by the proposed construction of the new Lamu Port. It said the Jomo Kenyatta Presidency (1964-1978) engaged in setting up dubious settlement schemes that on the surface appeared to help locals, but in the end turned out designed specifically to help upcountry people.
TJRC reported that only about 15 to 20 per cent of indigenous coastals benefited, while the rest of the land was taken up by upcountry people. To make matters worse, the report said, some members of coastal communities who received allotment letters had their land subsequently illegally taken away.
“In Lamu district, where a larger settlement programme was implemented, supported by aid from Germany, 10,000 members of the Kikuyu community were settled between 1969 and 1979, including ex-Mau Mau soldiers. The irregular move raised the population of the Kikuyu to 20 per cent in the district", the report said.
TJRC found that locals had previously lost their land to Arabs and the British and hoped to regain it at Independence, when upcountry people, especially Kikuyus and Kambas, checked in.
Raila also claimed that the Jubilee Government was trying to "fool" coastal residents "by issuing title deeds". President Kenyatta has issued thousands of titles to coastal people and promised more in the future.
Raila also alleged that the Jubilee Government does not safeguard the rights of Muslims and claimed there is a plot to silence all vocal Mombasa MPs by arresting them. He urged Muslims to rally behind Cord.
“There are many ways to skin a cat - I want us to join hands as Coast residents because I know Coast people are courageous. If we say we move forward, we move forward without taking steps back,” said Raila.
Speaking at the same function, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula claimed that the country is being held to ransom by a few individuals who "carry incredible historical-injustices baggage on their shoulders".
Wetang’ula said the government has failed to deal with insecurity and is now profiling people on the basis of their tribe and religion. Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale said the Opposition will stand "in solidarity with Muslims in good and in bad times".
President Uhuru Kenyatta has said an audit by the Ministry of Lands shows 500,000 hectares of Lamu county land has been grabbed by 22 organisation.
The President released the bombshell at State House on Thursday after a lengthy meeting with Lamu County leaders led by governor Issa Timmamy.
Uhuru said a ministry of land audit showed that most of the land in Lamu had been grabbed by criminal element between April 2012 and November 2012, despite a Moratorium on Public Land. This was during the coalition government of former President Mwai Kibaki and former PM Raila Odinga and Siaya Senator James Orengo's tenure as Lands minister.
The grabbed land accounts for 70 percent of all land in county leaving a paltry 30 percent for locals.
"Last year while in Lamu to issue title deeds I ordered the lands minister to carry out an audit of all land allocations in Lamu county, it has revealed that between 2011-2012 500,000ha which accounts for 70 percent of Lamu was alienated to private entity in a dubious manner," Uhuru said.
"Land was grabbed strategically for speculation purposes, targeting Lapsset. 13, Out of the 21 berths for the Lamu Port, have been allocated to grabbers. The Lamu Special Economic Zone was allocated to private companies over the same period," said the President.
Uhuru ordered immediate revocation of all land title deeds issued during that period in Lamu county. He also ordered that Inspector General of Police and CID to bring the culprits to book.
Lamu has faced a number of attacks that has left more than 100 people dead.
The government has insisted the killings are as a result of politics and land related issues and not al shabaab attacks.
The revelation came hours after Kenyatta amet with regional leaders on Thursday morning to discuss the Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Project at State House, Nairobi.
The meeting was attended by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia and President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan.
The leaders discussed joint financial options to fund the project which will require an estimated Sh2 Trillion.
Private entities involved
1. Brick Investments Limited, LR No. 29110, got 40,014 acres
2. Brick Investments Limited LR No. 29113 got 40,014 acres
3. Rusken International Limited LR No. 2911 got 40,014 acres
4. Mat International LR No. 29115 got 40,014 acres
5. Witu Nyangoro (DA) Company LR No. 29274 got .79, 534 acres
6. Witu Conservative Self Help Group LR No. 281448 got 54,201 acres
7. Shanghai Investment Limited LR No. 29247 got 19,760 acres
8. Fincorp Investments (K) Limited LR No. 29246 got 41,990
9. Kaab Investments LR No. 29322 got 6,268 acres
10. Sheila Ranch Limited LR No. 29254 got 5,399 acres
11. Dynamic Trading Co. Limited LR No. 29067 got 22,230 acres
12. Savannah Fresh Fruits Exports LR No. 29067 got 24,502 acres
13. Mokowe Kibokoni Ranch Limited LR No. 29256 got 6,725 acres
14. Panda Nguo Boni Community got 12,350 acres
15. Baragoni Boni Community LR No. 2927 got 19,760 acres
16. Khalrala Ranch LR 29255 got 12,276 acres
17. Cyberdom Investments LR No. 29322 got 11,000
18. Others are listed as ranches like Baragoni Ranch
19. Enganani Ranch
20. Lamu Investments
21. Others listed as ranches Amu Ranch
22. Maalim Ranch, also among those listed.
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