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{
    "id": 1052177,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1052177/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 178,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Dennitah Ghati",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13514,
        "legal_name": "Jacquiline Adhiambo Oduol",
        "slug": "jacqueline-adhiambo-oduol"
    },
    "content": "The Ministry of Lands has not come out clear especially on land that is within the borders and that is why the Maasais of Narok, Mashangwa, Lolgorian and the Kurias of Ntimaru where I come from, are often at loggerheads and war when it comes to issues of land. Before the Committee puts together a report, it is important for them to map out areas where land is contentious like in Kuria East where I come from. Quite often, men in Kuria do not even attend to their normal work. They are always at the borders of Maasai trying to safeguard their land because they have no title deeds. As much as the Constitution of this country has guaranteed land rights in this country, the Departmental Committee on Lands must sit down and look at areas that are contentious when it comes to land in this country, to which my Committee has done. We must address land injustices within our communities where we live. Many of our schools are constructed on public land. There are a lot of problems when it comes to issues of public land. Schools and churches have also gotten themselves into those wars. You will find them fighting over where they will put up their buildings. The Ministry of Lands, National Land Commission and the Departmental Committee on Lands must sit together and address the historical injustices when it comes to land in our communities and borders. Many of our people, schools and churches do not have title deeds of land where they have built or where they do businesses. More often than not, children do not even attend schools because of land fights. The other day we went to Mombasa. I want to tell this House that Mombasa has issues with public land and schools that must be addressed. At the same time, we should look at the land injustices that have existed in this country. Therefore, land being an emotive issue, land being a contentious issue, land being a problematic issue, I think it is high time the Ministry of Lands moved very fast even with its own digitisation… You know now they are talking about digitisation. How do you digitise when communities do not even know what digitisation is all about? Communities that are especially traditional and that own land in traditional areas need to be told the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning has a responsibility to educate them about their land rights. If you look at this country, many of our communities have no idea of their land rights. That is why you see they do not even know whether a school is built on a public land or community land. The Ministry of Lands must bring those issues clearly so that people get educated about their land rights. Women must know that they have a right to inherit land in this country, and not wait to be married to be able to acquire land. You know, we have a lot to do to enable us empower our people when it comes to issues of land rights. Hon. Deputy Speaker, allow me, with those few remarks, to really support the amendment to this Land Act of 2012, and thank the Hon. Member for speaking for so many of us who have been grappling with land issues in our communities and constituencies. I thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker."
}