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"id": 946354,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/946354/?format=api",
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
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"legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
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"content": "Through a statement, the Governor of Nandi County confirmed that his administration and the national Government were aware of the matter. He also confirmed that they were working towards a permanent solution that would have served justice for both the original and current owners of the land. The available options were to either find an alternative piece of land to resettle the current occupants of the land, or compensate the original owners who had filed the case in court. However, in actual sense, the only viable option was to compensate the original claimants of the land, since the intrigues could not be solved any other way. It is, therefore, very unfortunate that the same Government that was solving the issue by one arm, used the other arm to visit terror on these helpless families. These families have school-going children, some of whom are expected to sit for their national examinations in less than two weeks. The families have now been left homeless and destitute. More than 2,000 people have been forced to live by the roadside in tents, in this cold, rainy season, which is extremely disturbing. This is wrong. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is unfortunate that some political leaders have taken up the plight of the poor suffering people to do politics. This very serious matter has been turned into a topic for name calling, incitement and abuse, with no clear solution being pursued. The most obvious thing that the affected families need the most at this time is encouragement from a united leadership, regardless of political affiliation. They need leaders who honestly and urgently pursues solutions for them. However, with all the talk, the families are still out in the cold. We should avoid the temptation of trivializing this issue as a case of ethnic concern, and polarizing communities that co-exist interdependently and peacefully. The Government should immediately provide the necessary humanitarian aid and healthcare to the evicted families to prevent more suffering and outbreak of diseases. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, since Independence, the issue surrounding the ownership of land has been a very sensitive matter in Kenya. Our forefathers fought for Independence mainly because of land grievances. It is, therefore, unfortunate that, as a country, we have not handled the land issues conclusively more than 50 years after Independence. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Constitution of Kenya 2010 envisaged solving the land issues by defining it in Chapter Five, on Land and Environment, and the creation of the National Lands Commission (NLC) as one of the constitutional Commissions. However, have Kenyans lived to enjoy these gains? Certainly not. Up to now, the NLC and the Ministry of Lands has not made attempts to visit the affected community. This House needs to call these institutions to action. The second group of Commissioners to the NLC should be reminded that Kenyans are watching, and are expectant of their service. While the first Commission concentrated on land compensation and alleged corruption – which are subjects in court now because that is where the money is – the new Commission should hold true to their mandate. The Government has been digitizing land records and issuing title deeds. The Ministry needs to provide a report on the success of this exercise. To date, land buying cooperatives and companies swindle and deny their members land, and these perpetrators go unpunished. 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."
}