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{
    "id": 843523,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/843523/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 204,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "It would then have been neater if we were able to bring all the planning provisions that are related to land use to this important Bill so that the County Government Act and the Urban Areas and Cities Act can only provide for the intergovernmental frameworks of governance and bring the land use related amendments to this very important Bill. Madam Temporary Speaker, that is important because the details--- I am very proud to have served in the task force of devolved governments. I keep saying, and I will keep doing so, that we worked on the county Governments Act and the Urban Areas and Cities Act that had these detailed provisions about physical planning in the counties and land use. The other provision that the Committee is dealing with is in relation to agricultural land. There are strong views that time has come for us to properly provide for an institutional framework that is modern and enforceable. That will ensure that when we plan land for agriculture or urban planning, the necessary governance structure will be put in place to ensure that there is enforcement. A good example is given for Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, and parts of Elgeyo- Marakwet and Nandi counties where it was known as the White Highlands and the food basket of this Republic. That was the place where we got maize and it was even up to Bungoma County. Madam Temporary Speaker, at the moment, the Land Control Act makes it clear that for you to subdivide agricultural land; you must get the permission of the Land Control Board. However, because of the weaknesses that are within that Land Control Board, chiefs at the local level are unable to resist the temptation and inducements that come with that kind of sub-division. That governance structure is so weak that nowadays, it is bypassed and lands have been subdivided. We knew that Trans Nzoia County had large tracts of land and about maize. Nowadays, we find that land in some places has been reduced to less than five acres. If we are not careful in another 10 to 20 years, this great republic will not have a place for farmers and farming. It is important that as a nation we designate certain areas and know that when people are living in them it is about farming or pastoral life. When the Committee proposes amendments that are related to planning for agriculture and urban areas, we must strengthen this law to ensure that agricultural land will not be sub-divided into small bits and pieces that are unable to provide opportunity for us to do proper farming. Let us allow those who can do farming up to 200, 300, 500 or 1000 acres to do it. The rest of us who own land for the sake of it can move to the city and do other things, so that we can continue producing food for this country. Madam Temporary Speaker, I had a very good friend of mine, perhaps he was known to you, the late James Bett. When he was the leader of EMO Foundation, one of his greatest commitments at that time was to push for people to move to and live as a family or community in one area as is done in Europe and the USA and so on. This would then allow the large tracts of land to be available for farming. They would then form family or community companies. You would have the farm, a place where you live together and be easily given utilities such as electricity and water. 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."
}