The Muslim News

Nairobi, The Nation:

Former Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi was allocated 15.5 acres of land belonging to the Kongo Mosque in Diani, Kwale District.

The former President was named as the beneficiary of the land by Mr Orwa Ojode, an assistant minister in the Lands and Settlement ministry, following a barrage of points of order from MPs.

Mr Ojode said: "Mr Speaker sir, the land in question was allocated to a senior citizen of this country. His name is former President Daniel arap Moi."

This was after several attempts by MPs from both sides of the House to make him name the beneficiary of the land, whom he kept referring to as "a senior citizen".

However, Mr Ojode said he did not have the powers to cancel the title deed for the piece of land, as demanded by several MPs.

"As I have said before, once a title deed is offered, it cannot be cancelled. The only thing that can be revoked is a letter of allotment."

Mr Ojode said the 16-acre plot was surveyed in 1985 and the mosque allocated 0.5 acres.

The remaining land, Mr Ojode said, was allocated to a "private developer, who is a senior citizen of this country" The title to the land, he said, was issued in 1986.

Mr Ojode was answering Mr Abdallah Ngonzi, (Msambweni, Narc) who wanted him to table the names of the beneficiaries of the plot.

Mr Ngonzi also wanted to be told when the land would be returned to the rightful owners.

Mr John Serut (Mr Elgon, Kanu) asked whether the piece of land in question belonged to the Government, but Mr Ojode said the land belonged to the mosque.

Mr Ngonzi Rai (Kinango, Ford People) said the land should be returned to the mosque.

Earlier, Mr David Mwenje (Embakasi, Narc) had demanded that the assistant minister name the private developer.

"We would like to be told if it is Mwenje, Ojode, or ole Kaparo."

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