Government issues statement on “land invasion”

The Kenyan government on Tuesday reaffirmed that private land and commercial property were fully protected by the constitution and laws of Kenya. The head of the civil service, Richard Leakey, said in a statement that land disputes had arisen in the country and had always been resolved within the confines of the laws, Kenyan radio reported. Leakey was reacting to a news report that hundreds of families had invaded two white-owned farms, including that of Basil Criticos - an Assistant Minister for Roads and Public Works until he was sacked by President Daniel arap Moi on Thursday. He said the government was aware of the dispute involved and the matter was in court, adding that the inference in the report that the invasion followed the Zimbabwean pattern was “wrong and misleading”. He said the land disputes and an alleged arson attack on the sisal plantation would be resolved legally “without political undertones”.