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{
"id": 820308,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/820308/?format=api",
"text_counter": 22,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "August 7, 2018 SENATE DEBATES 5 Sen. (Dr.) Zani",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, as I listened to that Petition being read out, I had those thoughts about whether it is well positioned within the Senate. The answer is ‘yes’ and ‘no,’ partly. As much as these issues are significant to this particular individual, they also affect many other people. Therefore, there is a problem in the Ministry, board level or policy. Every other day, we find people buying land without involving all members of the family. If a man has three wives and their children might consent to that land being sold, then much later on, another son might appear on board to complain that he was not involved in the transaction. Some sort of mechanism has to be put into place to ensure that if family members are meant to consent to that sale wholesomely, then each member should be involved. I have a feeling that this is a trick that the family used. It is the oldest and easiest trick to use in the book. All you have to do is to come later on and reclaim the land and say that you did not know initially that all members had actually given consent. Philosophically speaking, you may not be able to get all the members on board. To me, this is a problem that is indicative of a particular ill. We might not want to contextualize this Petition as a Petition of the Senate, but we might want to give an agenda to the relevant committee to look into these issues. Mr. Speaker, Sir, now Kenya is opening up and people are buying land in Kitengela, Malindi and Kajiado. So, this problem will recur over and over again. By this petitioner bringing this Petition to the Senate, he has faith in us. He did not take it to the National Assembly; he brought it to the Senate because he felt that some sort of justice would be dispensed. Yes, it is from an individual. However, from a macro-perspective, it is an issue that affects many other Kenyans who might not be able to bring up this problem. We might not want to take individual petitions and specific cases. However, we need to look at the broader picture and ask ourselves whether these issues have been well consolidated within the context of the wards and counties. This will ensure that when parcels of land are properly sold and paid for, such a situation would not arise. As much as the petitioner is very specific and has recourse to other organizations or boards that might help him, he has raised critical issues that are dear to many Kenyans. Mr. Speaker, Sir, through this Petition, we are coming across important issues that affect many Kenyans. If we are talking about development, this will be done through infrastructure and agriculture. Many Kenyans who are unemployed and they are practicing agriculture. They are buying land for agricultural activities. This person, probably, had a dream to achieve, but now may not achieve it. I do not know what decisions we will make and how we will handle it. However, there is a way that we can refer this issue to the Committee so that they can look at it from a macro-perspective and analyze what problems might be happening. This gives us a chance to call in the officials from the Ministry of Lands to have a look at the issues that are coming up which need to be dealt with because the confidence of Kenyans is being lost. People want to invest, but they are not sure where to invest. You do due diligence, but later realize you have not done due diligence. You sell your land today and then somebody comes and tells you that that land had not been sold. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}