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"id": 188715,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/188715/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Orengo",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Lands",
"speaker": {
"id": 129,
"legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
"slug": "james-orengo"
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to move that Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, before I move the debate on my Ministry's Vote, let me inform the House of our achievements during the last fiscal year, that is the 2007/2008 Financial Year. The Mission of the Ministry is:- \"To facilitate improvement of the livelihoods of Kenyans through the efficient administration, equitable access, secure tenure and sustainable management of the land resource\". Towards this end, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the area of land management, a total of 147 titles were registered in 2007/2008, bringing to a total of slightly over 4.1 million titles registered in the country to date. That provides title owners with security of land and, therefore, incentive to use it productively. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, through various land transactions, the Ministry collected a total of Kshs6,160,646,922 in revenue and Appropriations-in-Aid (A-in-A), which was an improvement from the previous two financial years, that is the years 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, where Kshs890 million and Kshs3.99 billion were collected, respectively; thus being one of the major revenue collectors for the Government of Kenya. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in an effort to improve land information management systems, the Ministry has embarked on a computerization programme. Under that programme, the following has so far been achieved:- Development of a Settlement Fund Trustee Billing System to automate the billing and accounting process for all settlement schemes in the country. A designed database called Documents Management System for physical development plans, scanned and indexed 5,621 physical development plans. Further, we designed a database called Property Valuation Database in which 5,200 1970 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 22, 2008 valuation land reports for the year 2007/2008 were captured. Further, under that programme, the Ministry scanned, indexed and archived a total of 2,620 land records. Further, we designed a database document management system for all cadastral survey plans and scanned 13,540 survey plans. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as hon. Members are aware, Kenya has never had a land policy since 1963. However, during the year under review, the Ministry managed to come up with a draft National Land Policy. That draft was developed through a countrywide consultation process involving all stakeholders over a period of four years. Those consultations involved holding of regional workshops, focused thematic group workshops, written memoranda and verbal presentations from stakeholders representing all the sectors. The draft was presented to a national symposium of stakeholders in April, 2007, and was adopted with some amendments. Since then, the Ministry has continued to receive input from various stakeholders and the final draft is now ready for presentation to the Cabinet and for our approval. The Cabinet approval will pave the way for the preparation of a Sessional Paper, which will be presented to Parliament for discussion and adoption. In addition, the Ministry established a Land Reform Transformation Unit in October, 2007, to start laying the general framework for eventual implementation of the National Land Policy. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, during the fiscal year 2007/2008, the Ministry initiated and completed acquisition of land for eight road projects, namely:- Emali-Loitokitok Road, Wote- Makindu Road, Lanet-Njoro Turn-off, Nairobi Southern Bypass, Maji ya Chumvi-Miritini Road Phase I and II, Dundori-Ol Kalou-Njambini Road, Lanet-Maai Mahiu Flyover and Titanium Mining Project Phase II. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in land adjudication, a total of 30 sections were finalized and registered. To date, therefore, adjudication of Trust Land is completed in central and western provinces with the exception of two sections in Busia District of Western Province. All other provinces have been partially adjudicated and, from this financial year, an adjudication office will be opened in Garissa District in North Eastern Province to sensitize land owners on the need to ascertain their land rights and interests. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, regarding the settlement of the poor and landless families, 18 settlement schemes were registered and a total of 16,500 families settled. That has empowered those families to participate in the development process as they have an asset to exploit for agriculture and other activities. To date, a total of 261,614 poor families have been settled in 447 settlement schemes. Survey and mapping is crucial in boundary identification and demarcation of land for various purposes. In this regard, during the fiscal year 2007/2008, my Ministry made the following achievements:- One, inspected and maintained 41 national and international boundary pillars for purposes of enhancing good neighbourliness and peaceful coexistence. Two, surveyed and mapped 30 new district administrative boundaries. Three, we designed and prepared three maps for the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority for safe navigation. Four, we surveyed seven villages in Solio Ranch Settlement Scheme with a total of 3,038-half acre plots and established 30 plots for the farming land. Number five, a total of 2,329 plots of Dandora Co-operative Farm in Kiambu. This included a five acre plot for Nairobi District Headquarters and 10 acres plot for the district hospital. Finally, we established the Kenya National Special Data Infrastructure whose primary aim is to enable a platform of dissemination and access of special information to facilitate data sharing through the internet. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the area of capacity building, my Ministry, through the Kenya Institute of Survey and Mapping, trained 78 diploma students in various disciplines. A number of July 22, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1971 240 officers were trained in various short-term courses and 30 officers from 14 countries were trained in the Third Country Training Programme. The construction of a library and classroom block was started to accommodate more students. During the fiscal year 2007/2008, My Ministry, through the Department of Physical Planning, initiated and developed regional and local development plans in Kwale, Mombasa mainland, Kisumu, Nyando, Iten-Tambach, Runyenyes, Kosele, Lumakanda, Sagana, Kondoo, Kagonyalil, Maji Mazuri, Katulani, Kendu Bay, Kariomat, Ariatuni and Chemogororo. The regional plans will enable proper and appropriate use of land. The Ministry is currently revising its strategic plans with a view to aligning the objectives of the Ministry to the Vision 2030 Medium-Term Plan, that is, 2008-2012 objectives. The strategic plan provides the policies and actions to be undertaken during the medium term and also in formulating the targets for implementation in the performance contracts for the financial year 2008/2009. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, having listed some of the notable achievements of my Ministry over the past year, I now move to present the challenges that my Ministry faces in discharging its mandate. My Ministry has been receiving very low funding levels averaging 0.3 per cent of the Government expenditure over the years. In the year 2007/2008, the Ministry had requested for Kshs5.6 billion to implement its activities but was allocated only Kshs2.3 billion resulting in a shortfall of Kshs3.3 billion. This will negatively affect the Ministry's activities, especially those related to land and registration procedures and processes. It is also important to note that funds for the purchase of land to settle the landless poor Kenyans was not provided for in this financial year. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as hon. Members are aware, the main development objective of the Government is to reduce poverty and place Kenya on a path of sustainable economic growth through the Vision 2030 Medium Term Plan, the Millennium Development Goals and other sectoral strategies. In this regard, the Ministry of Lands deals with the administration and management of the land resource and human settlement, in collaboration with other relevant organisations and stakeholders. Land is a key sub-sector which is very critical to the realisation of Vision 2030 strategy. It is, therefore, important to have reliable, secure and up to date information on all land in Kenya in order to determine how to link land with all other development activities. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as mentioned earlier, our country has not had a clear, comprehensive and coherent land policy. The Ministry has been facing many challenges emanating particularly from inappropriate land use patterns, irregular allocations, inappropriate regulatory arrangement for sustainable use and difficulties of accessibility to land by the poor. This is compounded by the current numerous conflicting, cumbersome, outdated land and related laws that have contributed, for example, to a huge backlog of land adjudication cases and boundary disputes. Added to this is the emergence of uneconomical agricultural land subdivisions, especially in high potential areas mainly due to lack of a national land use policy and land use plans. The inadequate dissemination of the provisions of the Physical Planning Act and lack of resources, financial and human to enable physical planning to cede land registration activities also contribute to this problem. Currently, Kenya lacks up to date information on different uses such as agriculture, forestry, wildlife, water, infrastructure, among others. Land information is critical for decision making in all sectors. This, therefore, calls for an urgent initiative to put in place unsegregated national land management information system based on geographical information system technology. As stated earlier, governance in land administration has often been compromised by lack of modern land management information system. This has been manifested in substantial falsification of records and long delays in retrieval and use of land records. Security of land records is also compromised by inadequately secured land registries, especially in the districts. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I now turn to the policy priorities of my Ministry during this 1972 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 22, 2008 financial year, 2008/2009. These priorities which inform the preparations of our medium term expenditure framework budget for the period 2008 to 2011 are in line with the aspirations of Vision 2030 Medium Term Plan and achievements of the Millennium Development Goals. These includes:- 1. Development of a national land information management system based on geographical information system technology. 2. Finalisation and implementation of the National Land Policy. 3. Rehabilitation and establishment of land registries. 4. Initiate the formulation of national land use policy. 5. Initiate the process of harmonisation of land and related laws. 6. Carry out public education and awareness on the provisions of the National Land Policy. 7. Reduction of land conflicts by resolving pending land and boundary disputes and facilitate arbitration of land rent revision objections and land acquisition appeals. 8. Train new officers on dispute resolution and members of land control Boards and land dispute tribunals at the Kenya School of Law and other institutions. 9. Initiate a crush programme to finalise the ongoing and pending 322 adjudication sections across the country. 10. Facilitate increased settlement of the poor landless and also complete the ongoing settlement schemes. 11. Accelerate the transformation of the Kenya Institute of Surveying and Mapping (KISM) into a semi-autonomous Government agency with a view to enhancing the provision of well trained middle level manpower in the field of surveying and mapping. 12. Preparation and implementation of land use plans for the urban and rural areas. 13. Creation of a national and special data infrastructure for efficient management of due special information. 14. Maintenance of international boundaries. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I now beg to move the Ministry's Vote for 2008/2009 Financial Year. My Ministry will implement the policy priorities which I have outlined under the following expenditure Sub-votes:- 1. General administration and planning. 2. Land adjudication and settlement. 3. Survey and mapping. 4. Lands. 5. Land information and management system. 6. Physical planning. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in order to cater for services under the Recurrent Vote, I will require a gross provision of Kshs1,659,001,684, which I intend to apply in the following priority areas:- 1. An amount of Kshs1,101,530,812 will meet the expenses of staff salaries and allowances, including training. 2. A total of Kshs557,470,872, which includes Kshs218,240,544 in Appropriations-in-Aid will be used for operations and maintenance as follows:- Land and information system, Kshs14,154,525; National land policy formulation process, Kshs16,100,000; Resettlement programmes, Kshs4,502,000; Land management and adminstration, Kshs79,344,197; Land use planning programmes, Kshs44,098,879; Land Control Boards and Land Dispute Tribunals, Kshs98,830,868; Court awards, arbitration and compensation, Kshs54,300,000; Utility and communication costs, Kshs59,459,239; Resettlement programme along the ten-mile Coastal Strip, Kshs4,502,000; Monitoring and evaluation, July 22, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1973 Kshs5,750,000; Purchase of specialised materials for technical departments, Kshs25,742,080; Advertising and information, supplies and services costs, Kshs25,895,074; Local and international travel costs, Kshs61,072,530; Acquisition of non-financial assets, Kshs39,385,450; Fuel and maintenance of vehicles, Kshs55,341,892; Routine maintenance of stations, equipment and general office supply costs, Kshs96,933,214. The total comes to Kshs557,470,872. As regards the Development Vote, out of the gross provision amounting to Kshs649,035,000 for the Financial Year 2008/2009, Kshs192,035,000 will come from external receipts in form of grants from Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), to be utilized as follows:- National Land Reform Support Programme, Kshs172,835,000; and National Special Data Infrastructure Development, Kshs19,200,000. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like at this juncture to acknowledge and thank our development partners in the lands sector for their support, especially in the National Land Policy formulation process and land management information system. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the current financial year, my Ministry will utilise development provisions in the following areas:- Construction of buildings and refurbishment of Ardhi House, Kshs17,500,000, from the Government of Kenya. Installation of electrical wiring of junior staff houses in Ruaraka, Kshs2,500,000, from the Exchequer. Land policy and reform programme, Kshs20 million, from the Exchequer and donors; Appropriations-in-Aid, Kshs55,460,000 and revenue, Kshs117,375,000. That makes a total of Kshs192,135,000."
}