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{
    "id": 93747,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/93747/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 296,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Lands",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. First of all, to remove any doubts, let me again thank the Departmental Committee, and particularly the presentation of the chairman. I may have well not have spoken of the problems and challenges and what we need as a Ministry; his statements largely address some of the issues that are very disturbing to the Ministry. I want to use this opportunity to assure Kenyans that we are continuing to issue title deeds. Even with the new constitutional dispensation we will continue to issue title deeds. The security of a title deed is a fundamental consideration in any democratic constitution that recognizes individual rights. I think there should never be any doubt, now or in the future, that the security of tenure will ever be in doubt. I am glad that as the Minister in charge of lands that the proposed Constitution gives better security to individual titles as opposed to the current Constitution. These are some of the issues that were addressed in the National Land Policy. I am grateful that some of the hon. Members who have given their contributions on this matter have a great deal of experience. They knew what they were talking about. Even in terms of the problems that they have raised, it is not from the position where they have read it somewhere but it is from experience. Some of them have either worked in the Ministry of Lands or worked closely with the Ministry of Lands; Dr. Otichilo is such an hon. Member. I would have wished to hear what he had to say; I know he has a lot to say on this issue. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, regarding the problem of squatters I would want to say again and again that even from the perspective of our Ministry, we have numbers of squatters that need settlement all over the Republic. This is a national problem. There are some regions where the problem of squatters is more acute than in others. But in every part of the country, including Turkana, the problems of poverty and landlessness are a universal issue. So, you will notice that even in my presentation, I said that we had asked for Kshs8 billion for purposes of settling squatters but, we really did not get a single cent. I am not whining because we did make a presentation, but the issue was not given the significance that it deserves. Therefore, we will continue to be challenged in dealing with the issue of squatters nationally. In some areas like Coast Province, the problem continues to be acute. It is not just a question of landlessness and the poor; even in terms of the adjudication process and settlement schemes, Coast Province and some regions in the Rift Valley are not doing well. I cannot do anything about it until and unless the problem is regarded as a national problem and sufficient funding is given. I would also want to say that I want the support of this House. The Minister for Industrialization did indicate here that there are a lot of people in this climate who want to bring in investments into Kenya. A lot of them come to our offices seeking land. The only way that we can attract investors is to make land available. Even in places where land is as scarce as Singapore, they would want to give consideration to an investment which will change the face of this country."
}