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{
    "id": 641829,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/641829/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 295,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. M’uthari",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1576,
        "legal_name": "Joseph M'eruaki M'uthari",
        "slug": "joseph-meruaki-muthari"
    },
    "content": "should come with amendments rather than thinking of throwing away the whole Bill. The Bill has a constitutional implication. It is brought so that the different Land Acts can be harmonized. We are aware of the challenges that this country has gone through because of the land question. Most of the conflicts that we have - especially around election period - are related to land. The disquiet we have in certain regions of this country is land related. Given the importance of land in this country and the resources allocated to the same land, it is not commensurate. I have been following a number of issues for my constituency, which is Igembe North which is within Meru County. We have huge chunks of land that has not been surveyed or adjudicated. Majority of the people do not have title deeds and when you ask the Ministry, you are told that there is no money. When you consider the monies that are collected by the Ministry through land rates, you wonder why the goose that lays the golden egg is not fed, so that it can lay more golden eggs. This is a matter we need to look at. Clause 61(a) is giving the Cabinet Secretary (CS) the mandate to come up with a process for the registration of land titles. This should be commensurate with the funding given to the Ministry. It is sad that most of the conflicts of the people I represent revolve around land registration. At times, we get conflicts between one county and another. I can give the case of Meru County and Tharaka Nithi County, which used to be one district in old days. But there are conflicts between them. There are conflicts between Nyamira and Kisii. It is the same area but, at times, the problem is because of land. So, if the question of land is tackled, we can reduce the conflicts. In my constituency, people waste a lot of time on cases revolving around land. So, we must have clear roles and responsibilities given to NLC and the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development. We should set the timelines for the mandate that is given to them. That way, people will be cautioned. We will move away from some of these issues and move ahead. People will understand clearly about land tenure, ownership of property and, in the process, also invest in a proper way. Other issues within this particular Act that have been clarified are the roles and requirements. Qualifications for the land registrars and deputy land registrars are given. This clarification of roles, in my opinion, is a good thing. It will be of much help. The process of acquisition of land and the question of land sizes is something that is important. In Kenya, we have people who acquire land purely for speculation and, in the process, we are facing challenges. One of the challenges is with the oil pipeline where our neighbours are a bit uncomfortable because of the cost of land. Here in Kenya, we over-price land and, at times, you wonder even if you buy a piece of land, what will you invest on it and how long it will take you to recover your cost. Those are some of the things we may need to look at because in this country, we have people who over-value land and make the investment difficult. The would-be investors are forced to run away from our land."
}