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"speaker_name": "Mr. Sungu",
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"content": "who have nothing at all? Some even have land large enough to build an airstrip and yet, the likes of Mr. Sungu do not have even a place where a helicopter can land because there is no space. The question of the land system in Kenya is a question which has led to the inequality in development and distribution of wealth. Now, this Parliament must do something about it. I am glad that the Government, the other day, brought a land policy for discussion. I hope and pray that they will bring it to the Floor of this House for discussion, so that we could look at the question of land in general for the betterment and peace of this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to say that it is a colonial relic to allow people to own hundreds or thousands of acres of land when the Samburus and Maasais have to beg for a way to pass through to Mt. Kenya when there is drought. It is wrong. The colonial government acquired very fertile land in Central and Rift Valley provinces. However, when it was time to give back the land to its rightful owners, the successive Governments unfairly distributed it. In fact, it grabbed most of that land. We all know that there are cultural attachments to the land. Africans never used to have problems in their communities about the ownership of the land and its boundaries. The families knew how to use it. If any other community from elsewhere wanted it, they also knew how to go about it. For example, in Trans Nzoia, the Pokots were dispossessed and that is why we have problems with land. I must say that the Maasais and Samburus in Laikipia have a case in point. Just imagine they graze their animals in the large tracts of land owned by single individuals. They do not have land of their own to graze their animals. That system is unfair and we must face the challenge. The challenge is to redistribute that land in a more equitable manner and within a legal framework by practising restitution of the right of the people of this country who were dispossessed. This is because they did not have enough power to confront the colonial government which had guns. They had bows and arrows! Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the question of political patronage has also destroyed November 1, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3307 the land system in Kenya. The other day, the East African Lake Victoria Commission under the aegis of the East African Community wanted to have a piece of land to put up its headquarters. However, the Government was able to get them a piece of land. The land was given to people who were serving the Government of the day so as to survive in politics. It was then immediately sold to people who had money. So, there is no public land for public utility. Therefore, you will find that the people of Kajulu, Kanyakwar, Kolwa who were dispossessed of land, ostensibly, lost it and it was eventually given out to individuals. I think that system is unfair. It is up to this Parliament to ensure that, that kind of unfairness does not exist in our society for there to be justice, peace and fairness for all. I have said that the question of land is historical because the colonialists came and possessed what they could. When we gave our Government a chance, it also did what it did. I want to say that it is important, as we look at this issue, to know that Kenyans are the same, they ought to live together and if there is inequality, there will never be peace. I have travelled and observed, and believe that the main cause of conflict is competition for resources, be it land, livestock or water. If we want to solve those conflicts, we must make sure that we address the question of resources, especially land which is one of the most important resources. Finally, I want to address the issue of absentee landlords. After 40 years of Independence, it is a shame that someone can live in Yemen or in India and still own land in Miwani, yet the people of Kajulu do not have enough land to cultivate. The people of Coast Province are called squatters. The word \"squatter\" is relative. It is abusive, yet there is someone who is referred to as an absentee landlord, living somewhere in Yemen or wherever it is, yet our people are landless. It is a shame to us and we have to admit it. We cannot continue blaming the Government per se but ourselves as hon. Members---"
}