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{
    "id": 634175,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/634175/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 256,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Wahome",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1700,
        "legal_name": "Alice Muthoni Wahome",
        "slug": "alice-muthoni-wahome"
    },
    "content": "CIOC with a view to try and resolve the standoffs, the conflicts and lack of movement in terms of their mandates for this important work. The duplication of roles and overlaps of their mandate was not intended in the Constitution and was not in the Constitution. It is these laws that we enacted to implement the Constitution that created the confusion. Therefore, the amendments that are proposed in these land laws are timely. Hopefully, as we debate and finalise, we will remove conflicts and bring clarity in the implementation, so that the NLC’s mandate is clear. The mandate of the Cabinet Secretary is also clearly defined. Dealing with land is not a small issue. We have seen people being killed in this country because of land disputes. Therefore, even as we debate, we must remind these institutions that they are handling very emotive and serious issues. The country is aware that the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development has been a den of corruption and misapplication of the law. Public land in this country has been grabbed or stolen. Public land has not been properly used and allocated in accordance with the law. We are hoping that, even as we make these amendments, the holders of these important offices will have a new view of their work and exercise due diligence as they deal with the land question. Therefore, streamlining the laws will guide their work and help them implement their mandate. As a lawyer, I have been frustrated a lot. Many lawyers have been frustrated while dealing with the Ministry. Titling has been a problem. We have seen files disappearing, registers manipulated and interfered with. We heard of disappearance of important documents like development plans, maps and registers in Government offices. This must be a thing of the past and this message must be clear and taken to the offices of the NLC. Once these amendments are passed, we expect the management of public land to be done with caution. The important message must be that it is not possible for people to collude and dish out public land to individuals who do not deserve and who are not going to use this land for public interest and the larger public good. Therefore, I support the amendments. I am very keen on the provisions on minimum acreage. Although the Cabinet Secretary will have a role to commence a study to come up with a participatory process, the law will guide that process to ensure that people participate and give their views as to the minimum and maximum land that a person should own in this country. This question is very critical because some people have very large tracts of land and the ownership of those tracts is also in question. The ownership is not legally clear or the land was not properly acquired. This is land needed by other people. Therefore, the question of the maximum acreage is so critical than the question of the minimum acreage. It is the ordinary Kenyan that buys one acre, half an acre, or 0.2 acres. Other people hold unutilised land and they are not even paying any land rates. Therefore, this Bill seeks to clarify and empower the Cabinet Secretary to come up with regulations that will also be brought to this House. I am persuaded that these amendments are good and we should support them and move with speed, so that the NLC and the Cabinet Secretary can perform the duties they should have performed before. The issue of historical land injustices also needs to be taken with caution and speed."
}