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{
    "id": 1008477,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1008477/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 33,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. First of all, I would like to congratulate Gov. Sang, being a former Senator, for demonstrating his faith in this House, particularly in the process of resolving this very important issue regarding land. The issue raised by Gov. Sang is so important, especially for those of us who come from the Kerio Valley Region, particularly Elgeyo-Marakwet and West Pokot, who are affected by landslides every year. The Nandi situation is known to us, especially the Tinderet situation. If you look at that Petition, most of the people who were displaced are the ones who used to live in the Nandi Hills area and the larger tea estates. In my opinion, the crux of this Petition is the argument that the leases came to an end and there is a responsibility in law for those leases to revert to the county government. Instead, there is irregular renewal of leases, which would have provided a solution to the question of resettling and dealing with the problem of the squatters. The question that we need to ask ourselves is: What did Article 67 of the Constitution really anticipate when it talked about the role of the NLC, and particularly in resolving matters that related to expiry of leases? When we converted all leases to 99 years, what did we intend to do with it? When the land reverts back to the Government, what responsibility do the county governments and the national Government have? What is the situation of those who were historically displaced from their homes? They are suffering twice. They suffered through colonial times and are now suffering under their own Government even after the leases have expired. I hope that the Committee will not come up with a response that deals with Nandi alone, but also a solution to what we do with the expiry of leases across the country, and what the responsibilities of county governments, the national Government and the NLC are. Finally, Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the resolution of the question of landslides, I repeat that you never know. Nowadays, the rains have become erratic. Five years ago, during this period, it would be raining all over the country. We never know if it will rain the same way it did a few months ago when our people were swept in Embobut and all those areas of Kerio Valley. I request the national Government that they should not be reactionary to disasters. It is obvious that if it rains again, landslides will happen in Tinderet, along Kerio Valley and in many parts of the country. There will be floods in Western and Nyanza regions. The Government should not be reactionary. What is important is to prepare in good time and be ready to warn people. As Sen. (Dr.) Langat asked: What is the work of geologists and the meteorological department? They are there so that people are warned in good time and disaster is averted. We have lost too many lives and we do not want to continue seeing this. I hope that Sen. Githiomi’s Committee, or any other committee that you will give The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}