Vihiga County Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo has urged the national government to issue title deeds to the residents of Shaviringa, Tiriki East Sub County.
Speaking during celebrations to mark the International Day of Forests at Inyanza, Vihiga Sub County, Dr. Ottichilo asked the government to hasten the process of issuing title deeds to the residents of Shaviringa, who moved from Mbale to pave way for the construction of Vihiga County headquarters.
“We’re living like squatters since the governor’s office does not have a title deed, as the original owners cannot allow us to process the title deeds before theirs are processed,” he said.
The governor said that the land where Vihiga County headquarters and the governor’s office are located do not have title deeds, since the original occupants have not been issued with title deeds after relocating to Shaviringa.
He added that the issue of processing title deeds for Shaviringa residents has taken a long time saying these residents moved early 1980, urging the government to now move with speed and assist them, so that they can benefit fully from their parcels of land.
Dr. Ottichillo said they had preserved more than 24 community forests in partnership with local community elders, which are used to carry out several cultural rites including circumcision.
The governor commended the government for the good work they have done through the Kenya Forest Services by fencing Kibiri forest at a cost of Sh20 million, while this year again, an additional Sh10 million has also been set aside to ensure continuous conservation of the same forest.
He called on the government to come up with a plan of relocating people living around forests and settling them elsewhere, so that the forests are free from human activities.
The governor said the county government of Vihiga has come up with a greening programme, where they encourage teachers and learners to plant and grow trees in their respective schools.
He advised residents to plant trees especially fruit trees which provide food, tree cover and has economic benefits which will improve their living standards.
By Maureen Imbayi
