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{
    "id": 925159,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/925159/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 143,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tharaka, DP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Gitonga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13491,
        "legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
        "slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
    },
    "content": "While it is very clear that the persons who have complained were and some of them are squatters, there are valid reasons as to why they became squatters. This was not out of their own volition or out of desire to acquire land that belongs to the Government. It is borne out of reasons which were beyond their control and they found themselves occupying part of this forest and settling there including developing their own homes and facilities which they have continued to enjoy. The Committee has come up with recommendations on how best to resolve the matter. I am in total support of the recommendations of this Committee. First and foremost, it is important that the process by which these citizens acquired this land is regularised under the law. This is why there is a recommendation that part of this forest has to be degazetted and then declared as land available for alienation by individuals forming these groups. There is also a recommendation that within a given period of time, the ministries of lands and physical planning and interior and coordination of National Government act speedily to ensure that any irregularities that are involved as regards the membership of these groups are resolved and the problem is brought to an end. It is vitally important to note that land is a very emotive issue in this country. Matters touching on land are very sensitive and, in fact, are a matter of life and death. Therefore, it is important that when questions touching on land are brought before this House, the Executive arm of the Government or even before the Judiciary through the Environment and Land Court, they are expeditiously disposed of and the citizens are given their rights as enshrined in the law. With regard to this particular complaint that was brought before the House, I have a complaint regarding citizens of my constituency, Tharaka. They came up with a petition and brought it before this House stating that they were displaced from their lands in the years between 1995 and 1998. To date, most of them are internally displaced persons (IDPs). They are squatters on available public land. The Government, in spite of being persuaded through the Commission led by one Zachary Ogongo, has not settled the citizens of my constituency. It is a matter that I have constantly revisited. Even today, I was before the Departmental Committee on Lands. It is important that those members of the public from my constituency of Tharaka, who used to occupy a sub-location known as Macabini and who now live in public areas and have problems are considered by the Government. They should either be resettled in the lands they used to own The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}