North Rift leaders up in arms over bill

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago

Leaders and farmers in the North Rift have raised concern over a proposed law that seeks to set limits on the land acreage an individual can own.

During a consultative meeting at Uasin Gishu County Hall yesterday, governors, a senator and MPs from the region strongly opposed the draft law that is set to be introduced in the National Assembly.

They unanimously opposed the move to restrict property ownership including possession of fixed assets like land.

Residents said they invested their resources to acquire land, while others inherited it from their parents who toiled hard to acquire it. They said limiting acreage "cannot work".

They said the proposed Kenya Minimum and Maximum Land Holding Acreage Bill, 2015, if passed without amendments, will be a major setback to large-scale farmers in North Rift and will negatively impact on food production.

Jackson Kibor, a large-scale farmer, said the bill is discriminatory against farmers who worked hard to buy large farms for agricultural use.

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago said: "There is no free land and proposals to reduce acreage cannot work. The Constitution protects citizens and their property including land."

Mr Mandago said after the inauguration of the Constitution in 2010, Kenyans were told that part of it would be amended.

Nandi Governor Cleophas Lagat said subdivision of land into smaller portions would affect productivity and impact negatively on food security.

"Land will lose its value once it is subdivided into smaller portions. Food production will also be affected once acreage is reduced," said Dr Lagat.

Mandago, Lagat, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, Uasin Gishu Senator Isaac Melly, MPs Silas Tiren (Moiben), Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Elisha Busienei (Turbo), James Bett (Kesses), Wesley Korir (Cherangany) and former MP Joel Barmasai attended the meeting.

The leaders said the Rift Valley region largely relies on agriculture for their livelihoods and that they will not support any move to reduce acreage of land, which they said should be freehold.

Mr Busienei said there is need to address injustices that residents in the region suffered during and after colonialism by addressing agenda four that concerns land.

Mr Bett said as legislators from the Rift Valley, they will ensure the proposed bill is not passed. Mr Sudi dismissed the proposed law, saying it is going nowhere and assured residents that their land is safe.