BUNGOMA — Former Defence Cabinet Secretary and DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa has criticised promoters of the proposed Venice Smart City project following a court ruling over land reserved for the Bungoma Airstrip.
In a post on X, Wamalwa questioned why developers proceeded with the project on public land without adequate public participation, allegedly disregarding court orders.
“Who is Smarter now, the People of Bungoma or the Merchants of Venice Smart City?” he posed.
The dispute centres on Parcel No. Bungoma Township/345, measuring approximately 36.95 acres, historically reserved for the Kanduyi/Bungoma Airstrip.
In its judgment, the Environment and Land Court in Bungoma, presided over by Justice Enock C. Cherono, found that the land remained public land designated for an airstrip and that a lawful change of user had not been demonstrated.
The court also highlighted the need to comply with public participation requirements under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019, before changing the use of public land.
The ruling comes amid a protracted legal battle over the proposed development, with earlier court orders reportedly barring changes to the land's use and further proceedings seeking to stop construction and excavation works.
Gubernatorial aspirant Zacharia Baraza, who filed a separate petition, has proposed that the land be reserved for the expansion of Bungoma County Teaching and Referral Hospital, a children's park, a public library and other recreational facilities.
However, Governor Kenneth Lusaka has defended the project, maintaining that the airstrip was lawfully degazetted and that the Smart City initiative is not a land-grabbing scheme. He has described it as an urban development plan featuring affordable housing, green spaces, innovation hubs and business parks.
The dispute has renewed debate over public participation, land ownership and the management of public assets as the court process continues.