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{
"id": 963832,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/963832/?format=api",
"text_counter": 129,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
"slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
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"content": "The law has provided for how to change land use from one classification to another. Therefore, if the intention is to convert community land to public land or vice versa, there are some constitutional conditions or legal provisions that have been provided for that. Therefore, the people who purport to have issued this Gazette Notice should listen to this carefully. If the intention of this land was to build a health facility in Isiolo County, a military installation or any other thing, then it cannot be built. This is provided for in the Constitution. We should stop double standards. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the famous BBI has been launched today and the launch presided over by the President. Why is it that the people in Nairobi are compensated while those in Isiolo are not? That is what happened in Nandi County the other day. Therefore, as we have this conversation of constitutional review and whether we want to change the executive structure, we should respect Kenyans. For example, we should not disrespect Kenyans simply because they come from North Eastern or Rift Valley. A person should not think that they have more rights because they come from a particular region. Whether a person comes from Tharaka Nithi or not, he or she should be treated the way we do a Kenyan in Namanga or in Kisumu. Therefore, the people of Isiolo County must be given their rights. They have a right not to allow that land to be used for earmarked purposes. That is what the law has provided for. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I join the leaders from Isiolo; I also appreciate and celebrate them for standing firm. I have monitored the county commissioner, who tried to demean them. He tried to lecture, intimidate and coerce leaders who are standing for the rights of people who elected them. They should be reminded that an elected leader is a voice of God. The voice of the people is also the voice of God. This shows that there may be some characters in the Executive who are misusing county commissioners. This is not the first county commissioner to lecture elected leaders. We have seen others in some other parts of this country telling us to either shape up or ship out. Therefore, I urge the Chairperson of the Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, Sen. Githiomi, to prosecute this matter within a short time. We know how people can be mischievous in the Government. If we allow it more time, by the time we are concluding this matter, somebody else will have a title deed. We have had cases where a person has a title deed to public land. Just the other day, somebody hived off the headquarters of the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning. Therefore, if the Ministry is not safe, how can we be sure that the issues of Isiolo are protected? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the last point, so that I can allow my colleagues to contribute, is the aspect of public participation. Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya provides for public participation. I have heard that the BBI report has recommended a rapporteur on the issue of public participation in this country. It is sad and illegal that public participation was not conducted on the issues of land affecting the residents of Isiolo. Kenyans should shun away from the practice of receiving soda and bread so as to sign some fake public participation documents. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if we do not bring the issue of public participation to the fore in the constitutional referendum, then we are doomed. The ANC party leader, Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, spoke candidly at the Bomas of Kenya today. He stated that the"
}