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{
    "id": 234381,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/234381/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 187,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Mirugi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 367,
        "legal_name": "Kariuki Mirugi",
        "slug": "kariuki-mirugi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to contribute to this important Motion. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, first of all, we have to acknowledge that the squatter problem in this country has been going on for the last 43 years. The successive governments since Independence have not addressed this issue adequately. The successive Parliaments have not addressed this issue adequately and I want to say that this country is courting a serious disaster and we have seen the precursors in the last few weeks. In Mombasa, for example, we saw when 3678 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES November 15, 2006 squatters started encroaching on private and idle land. The problems in Rift Valley Province of tribal clashes and in Mathare in the last few weeks occured because of these land issues and the squatter problem in this country. However, we are just pre-empting a disaster. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to say that we are not short of laws in this country that could have addressed this issue. For example, the Minister for Lands can invoke the Compulsory Acquisitions Act and take over idle land or land that has been acquired irregularly. It is also shameful and very sad that leaders in this country have taken advantage of the patience of Kenyans. I want to say that Kenyans are the most patient people in Africa and out of this treasure of land, we have been very patient. It is high time that this Government and Parliament addressed this issue comprehensively. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, another issue is that it has become a trend whereby Motions have been brought into this House, passed and have gathered dust. I know this is not the first time that a Motion addressing the squatter problem has been brought to this House. This Parliament has to take the centre stage by providing a resource office whereby we can have assistance in drafting Bills. We should not have to wait until the Government brings Bills to this House. I very much support the idea of making this House independent. So, I want to urge Mr. Oloo-Aringo to, speedily, bring the Bill to the House, so that we can enact it into law and provide for a resource office. That will enable us to have Private Members' Bills drafted within Parliament Buildings, instead of waiting for the Government to facilitate the same. It is the mandate of this House to address the priorities of this country. The squatting problem is a priority in this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is very shameful that some political leaders, who are aspiring to be President of this country, own large tracts of land when the majority of Kenyans are landless. For instance, one family owns land the size of Nyanza Province in this country. It is very shameful. The same leaders go out there and talk about squatters and yet they own land the size of Nyanza Province. We can settle squatters and avoid the insecurity problems frequently witnessed in Kibera and Mathare slums if some of the leaders who pretend to talk about the plight of the poor people of this country can surrender those tracts of land."
}