The National Irrigation Authority has agreed to cede part of its 12,630-acre land at the Tana Irrigation Scheme in Tana River County for the expansion of Hola town and settlements.
Daniel Atula, Deputy Manager in charge of Corporate Services, told the Public Petitions Committee of the National Assembly that they were in the process of identifying the areas to be ceded that fall under the 2,000 acres agreed.
He said that the particular parcel of land within the larger 12,630 acres can now be ceded to allow the town expansion.
The Public Petitions Committee chaired by Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai is working on a petition by Galole MP Said Hiribae who wants the government to degazette the Hola Irrigation Scheme land to facilitate the expansion of the County headquarters.
The NIA has agreed to the prayer by MP for Galole to shelve off 2,000 acres so that it can create room for the town of Hola to expand.
Locals said they will not allow to be displaced to other areas and that they should be settled wherever they are.
Mr Mohamed Didha, a former assistant chief of Chewani Sub location, said that the population had grown from about 3,000 when the scheme started to the current population of more than 10,000 people.
Chewani MCA Hamisi Iddi said that the NIA land should be devolved since all land is devolved according to the constitution.
