Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has weighed in on the Dangote Lamu refinery land row, saying the court order effectively freezes all activity on the disputed parcel.
“What the court order means is that no one can get into that land in Lamu and do any activity there,” Maanzo said Tuesday, interpreting the Malindi Environment and Land Court’s status quo order on LR No. 13061 in Hindi/Manda Magogoni.
He argued the government is attempting compulsory acquisition but must follow the law.
“Before the government can acquire land, it must compensate the owners,” he said, insisting compensation comes before possession.
Maanzo said the dispute cannot be solved overnight because the court must establish whether the land is public or private, and whether notices, valuation, public participation and resettlement plans required under the Land Act and Article 40 of the Constitution were followed.
The case was filed by 133 Chandavai residents who say they have lived on and farmed the land for generations without title deeds.
They claim crops were destroyed without payment while compensation was earmarked for absentee title holders.
Justice Jane Onyango declined to stop the September 30 groundbreaking but ordered status quo until October 14, when parties will be heard.
