It was a relief for residents of Elburgon ward in Molo Sub County after they received 2,891 title deeds in an ambitious titling program steered by the County Government of Nakuru paving way for peace and cohesive development in the area.
Gracing the occasion, Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary (PS) Charles Hinga urged beneficiaries to embark on putting their lands to productive use and develop the rural area that has been plagued by land driven spates of ethnic strife for decades.
The PS also advised beneficiaries of the titling program to take advantage of the new affordable loan schemes at the National Housing Corporation(NHC) to complement the government`s bid to establish low cost decent houses in the area that lies within the Peri-urban areas of Nakuru Town.
He observed that with the forthcoming elevation of Nakuru municipality to a city status, areas that lie in the town`s suburbs stand to benefit immensely from the development through an anticipated high demand for residential houses and office space for the soaring population in Nakuru.
Hinga said part of the government`s plan through the state department for Housing and Urban Development is to partner with the County Government of Nakuru to upgrade urban areas in the county through the second phase of the World Bank funded Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Program to help spur investment for economic growth .
The PS used the opportunity to caution politicians from the County against politicizing the quest for a city charter for Nakuru Municipality saying with the new status, the region stands to receive up to Ksh. 60 Million annually for development from the special kitty for ope-rationalization of cities in the country.
He said that this will afford Nakuru municipality and its neighboring towns a chance to transform their economic prospects and attract wealth and jobs for their rising populations .
On his part Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui said the program seeks to open up rural areas for establishment of utility projects after years of underdevelopment due to lack of ownership documents to parcels of public land.
He said the program aims to protect public land against grabbing and repossessing grabbed public lands from unscrupulous grabbers.
Kinyanjui said land grabbing remains a hindrance to the devolved unit`s effort to establish markets, slaughter houses, hospitals and Early Childhood learning centers in some parts of the region.
Governor Kinyanjui noted that with the documents for every public land,the County government will now be able to put up amenities in targeted areas in the effort of delivering services and improve quality of life among residents as envisaged in the County Integrated Development plan.
Kinyanjui appealed to beneficiaries not to sell their lands but consider ways of using the resource to improve their livelihoods and support rural economies which are dependent on Agriculture.
He observed that land motivated conflicts in the region emanated from controversial sale and buying and called on residents to follow due process before selling or buying land to avert strife.
The Governor said Elburgon and Molo residents have received title deeds to their lands in the first phase of the initiative while the second phase will target residents of Kuresoi North and South, Naivasha and Gilgil Sub Counties.