Kenya MP Aspirant Donates 1,000 Acres to Squatters

Former Taveta Member of Parliament Basil Criticos has given away 1,000 acres of land to settle about 3,500 squatters in the Constituency. The former Assistant Minister has said squatters in Eldoro, Kimorigo, Python Hill and Mrabani among other areas will each get a share of the 1,000 acres he personally donated for the course.

Criticos, who is contesting for the Taveta seat as an independent candidate, lost to Jubilee’s Naomi Shaban by less than 100 votes, and will be battling her again for the same seat.

"I am now back into active politics with a promising message that I will contest for the seat on a platform of land reforms and plans to empower the youth by initiating income-generating projects through small and medium enterprises," he said.

"I am the only land owner in the county who has shown interest in addressing the thorny squatter issue in the region. Other major land owners should also follow suit," he told The Standard at his farm.

Criticos cautioned politicians from the region against using his farm to gain political mileage, saying that the farm privately belonged to him.

"Some of my political rivals have been going round the county claiming that the Government would buy my land from the Agricultural Finance Corporation for failing to service a loan. They are misleading the voters," he said.