William Ruto office now linked to Charity Ngilu, Mohamed Swazuri row

Deputy President William Ruto PHOTO: COURTESY

Kenya: The office of the Deputy President William Ruto has been drawn into the controversy surrounding proposed amendments to three land laws.

The proposed amendments to the National Land Commission Act, Land Act and Land Registration Act have infuriated the National Land Commission (NLC), that claims they are tailored to give more powers to Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu. This came out after the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) wrote to Ruto's legal adviser Korir Singoei, seeking to get copies of the proposed changes to the three land laws.

In a letter dated June 16 and signed as received on July 22, the commission indicated that Ruto's office was responsible for the drafting of the changes and forwarding to the National Assembly.

"In line with our mandate, the commission requests for a copy of the proposed amendments for our review and further action," said CIC's vice chairperson Elizabeth Muli in a letter to Dr Sing'oei.

The letter was copied to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Attorney General, Permanent Secretary in Lands Ministry, the NLC, Leader of Majority in the House and chairperson of the delegated legislation in the House.

The development came only a day after Ngilu asked the parliamentary lands committee to fast track the amendments to harmonise the operations in the sector.

She also asked the committee to allow the ministry gazette the proposed adaptation of the lease form so that Kenyans can get their leases and grants, which is a mandate of NLC. The amendments have been opposed by NLC which has sought the intervention of governors, senators and MPs to stop them. The commission wrote to all governors, senators and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Land and Natural Resources, alerting them of the planned changes.

NLC Chairman Muhamad Swazuri in his letter dated June 26 claims the amendments are in bad faith, intended to completely turn around gains made in reforming the land sector and deny the commission the opportunity to ensure all unregistered land is registered within 10 years from 2012.

"The amendments further subject the commission to an ineffective advisory organ totally subsidiary to the whims of Ngilu," said Swazuri, adding: "The amendments completely lock out any participation of county governments in land transactions, as they would now be controlled by the Ministry of Lands. All this is contrary to Constitution." He said that all the activities done by the ministry in the name of "efficiency and reforms" are mere acts to extend the status quo at Ardhi House.