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{
    "id": 920794,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/920794/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 402,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13156,
        "legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo Jnr",
        "slug": "mutula-kilonzo-jnr"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I congratulate you on your new position, even if you have been sitting there for a while. I rise to support the Report of the Mediation Committee on The Land Value Index Laws (Amendment) Bill. Sen. Mwangi was the Vice Chairperson of the Committee, but our Chair for purposes of mediation. There are problems that we highlighted that the Chairman did not mention. We recommended that in future, the joint services and especially the legal counsels that help us draft the Bills, should sit together so that they do not confuse us. This is because both the legal teams of the Senate and the National Assembly had different views on the title of the Bill. We should do that for purposes of order because we are all parliamentarians. It occurred that the legal teams of the Senate and the National Assembly could not agree. We were of the view that you cannot amend a Bill whose name does not exist because there is nothing in law called ‘land value.’ So, you cannot call it ‘The Land Value (Amendment) Bill’ because there is no land value law. The National Assembly, led by the Director of Legal Services, said that it can be drafted in any form, but the Senate disagreed with them. We thought that they should not take sides when it comes to services that are given to legislators. In fact, one Member said that his client is the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, and we spent some time arguing on that. The second issue is the mischief behind these laws. There are people who have taken advantage of the poor Kenyans and those who do not have titles deeds. There are people who have bought land in Lamu for speculative purposes because they are aware the Government will do the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project. There are people who have bought land in Narok and Kajiado counties because they know that the Government is buying land for purposes of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). We also have people who have bought land in Makueni County because of the SGR. How do we deal with the problem of squatters? We will have a good law, but I am still not happy with the timelines. Although we all agreed, I am not happy with a clause where we said that the Cabinet Secretary (CS) will consult. The Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources agreed that where the national Government is concerned, for purposes of cooperation and coordination, people should not sit jointly, but consult. Chances are that they will never consult. I am happy that we all agreed that when the land value index is prepared, it will be tabled in Parliament for approval. Therefore, we will not have land cartels with an office changing values of land in Isinya or Isiolo after some time as they please because they will have to deal with Parliament. I am also happy that we will protect innocent Kenyans who thought the Government would evict them from their land and pay them in installments or later. I remember there was a time when the former Chairperson of the National Land Commission (NLC) told the President in a meeting that I was present that they will put The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}