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{
    "id": 1076726,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1076726/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 471,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui South, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Rachael Nyamai",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13374,
        "legal_name": "Richard Ken Chonga Kiti",
        "slug": "richard-ken-chonga-kiti"
    },
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity. I support this Report. I would like to thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Chairman and Members, for the effort they have made in reviewing the Budget Estimates within the shortest time that was available. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Members of the Departmental Committee on Lands for effectively interacting with the Budget Estimates for the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, and the National Lands Commission. The Committee has made great recommendations that I will be going through. As the House is aware, we deal with the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, and the National Lands Commission. With regard to the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, the focus is on titling and digitisation. This is production of title deeds for land that has been registered, which is a huge programme. The President would like to have all the land in this country digitised to ensure that when people come to invest, they are able to identify where the land is and get an indication of its value based on the laws that have been passed in this House and also in making reference to the land value index that was done. A lot of money has been put into production of title deeds and digitisation. For the purpose of relevance, the Committee noted several issues on land. Just as the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee said, we noted that the National Treasury had not implemented the resolution of this House contained in the Budget Policy Statement. Ours was slightly higher and has been clearly stated by the Chair. The State Department for Physical Planning continues to operate on a very low budget of Kshs60 million. I joined this Committee in 2017 and the budget allocation for this department has been more or less the same. This House approved a nominee who was vetted for appointment to the position of Principle Secretary for the Department of Physical Planning. The PS clearly told the Committee that there was a requirement of Kshs1.9 billion for the Ministry to support Physical Planning within the counties. We are aware that physical planning is very important. What has been put there is only Kshs60 million. I would like to thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee because they listened to the recommendations of my Committee and this department’s budget allocation has been pushed up to Kshs200 million. However, it is still low. Since we now have a Principle Secretary for this department, it is important for it to be funded. The State Department for Physical Planning needs to be allocated a Budget Vote to facilitate implementation of the proposed National Sectional Spatial Program (NSSP) and the Counties Spatial Support Program. The Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning needs to cease revenue collection in cash. The Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning is an important Ministry for all the other ministries because it provides land, which is required for development. Looking at the revenue collection for this financial year, by March 2021, the Ministry had collected Kshs7.3 billion against a target of Kshs13 billion. We need to sensitise the House on the importance of financing the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning because it is a Ministry that can finance itself and probably finance other departments as well. What the Committee has recommended is that the Ministry must cease cash collection. We have said this before. We are giving a close on the last day of June 2021 so that they do not have any excuse for collecting money in cash form. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, settlement of the landless in this country is an important aspect of the Government. The President has been very clear on settlement of people who are landless and the Committee has recommended uniformity in ensuring that it does not happen only The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}