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{
    "id": 1183474,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1183474/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 136,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mogotio, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kiborek Rueben",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also stand to support the Motion by Hon. Ferdinand Wanyonyi. Land is a very emotive issue. Be that as it may, we also need to talk about it. It is a discussion we should have and continue having because land is a factor of production. The continuous subdivision of rural agricultural land is a big challenge which has been commercialised by business people who look for margins. For instance, someone buys 100 acres of agricultural land. Because he may not get a buyer, he subdivides it into small plots of 50 feet by 100 feet and then he invites many buyers to come and buy it. It ends up losing its original purpose which was for agricultural use. It becomes a semi-commercial land without an urban set up because it is a rural place. So, we end up losing agricultural land in places which were historically known for being the bread basket of this country such as Njoro, Ngata, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia and other places. These places feed this country. However, the land ends up being subdivided into small plots which cannot even grow maize, wheat or any other cash crop which can feed this country or be exported. We should enforce the law on the minimum subdivision of land in rural areas, so that we do not waste agricultural land. I agree that we should have laws governing the maximum acreages of land an individual should own, as long as he utilises it. A person can be allowed to use the land for the intended purposes. The problem is when someone has a big chunk of land which is not being utilised. It ends up not being of any help to the country and the individual who owns it. We should tax idle land. If someone is not using the land, he should be taxed so that it becomes expensive to keep it. As Hon. Dawood has said about urban areas, subdivision of land should be allowed because it enhances their growth. However, it should be done according to the physical plan of that urban area. I support the Motion by Hon. Ferdinand Waititu. Thank you."
}