Land issue in Migori County has taken a different twist after the Governor Zachary Okoth Obado put on notice individual and private investors who have encroached on public land.

This comes after the County Government and Catholic Church have been embroiled in ownership tussle of some parcels in Rongo and Uriri sub counties.

Addressing public during the Madaraka Day Celebration at Rongo Stadium, Governor Zachary Okoth Obado said that some of the public land reserved for public infrastructure development have been grabbed by individuals.

 “My government is committed to stopping any further grabbing of public land and towards this goal, fully supports the recently appointed Migori County Land Management Board, which we hope will resolve outstanding land cases and ensure public land is protected,” he said.

He said that, through the department of Lands, the county government has reclaimed a number of parcels that have been used in building up projects either by the government or institutions that offer services to the people.

“We have therefore provided land for development of a Forestry Research Institute at Lichota and an industrial park in the same area.

Trade and nutritional benefits accrued from the presence of this institutions in our county will undoubtedly be enormous,” Obado said.

Obado also warned contractors who have been extremely slow in completing their work and those who have been doing a shoddy job on roads and other constructions.

He said their days were numbered and the companies and their owners will be blacklisted and denied any contract in the county.

“I, therefore, ask wananchi to help us locate these irresponsible contractors by being vigilant and reporting them to respective authorities. Let me caution here that should such contractors be brought to our attention, my government will not only blacklist the companies involved but also the individuals behind the firms,” he said.

On development, the Governor said that more than 2 million trees will be planted this year in efforts to improve a homegrown reforestation programme where school pupils, teachers, woman and youth groups are involved in the exercise.

“My government has therefore given out free tree seedlings throughout the county in a homegrown reforestation programme. To end disaster, we are planning to enhance our disaster response and preparedness by purchasing a fire engine to be based in Migori town,” he added.

To improve trade within the county, Obado said that his county government has allocated Sh80 million towards the construction of 16 fresh produce and horticulture market shades, two in each sub county.

This, he said, will be coupled with the installation of street lights in urban centres in the county at a cost of Sh160million in a bid to realize the 24-hour economy.

“The lights will be located at all urban centres and markets across the county. With the street lights, we expect security to improve across the county.

To strengthen the capacity of traders, increase savings and strengthen cooperatives, my government will intensify training of traders and support investment through savings in cooperative societies,” he said.