Deputy President William Ruto encourages MPs to include constituents in passing Community Lands Bill

Deputy President William Ruto has asked Members of Parliament (MPs) to include the views of their constituents in the Lands Bill.

Mr Ruto said all stakeholders, including county governments; MPs and the Ministry of Lands should work together to ensure the rights of local communities were secured.

 “There should be teamwork, coordination and collaboration among all stakeholders before the Community Lands Bill is passed,” said Mr Ruto.

Speaking when he presided over the opening of Maungu roadside lorry park in Taita Taveta County on Monday, the Deputy President said the debate should be sensitive to the interests of all communities.

The park was constructed by the national government at a cost of Sh 319million.

Governors and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) had complained about the bill that it had failed to include the views of the local communities.

“I want to assure Governors and county leaders that the bill will address the sensitive issues before it is passed,” said Mr Ruto.

“I appeal to MPs to ensure any legislation is sensitive to the interests of the people,” he added.

He went on, “Consultation must happen in the Community Act which is still a bill in Parliament so as to address the concerns of all communities before its implementation.”

 Mr Ruto said issues pertaining to land were sensitive and views of all stakeholders were considered to avert controversies over land ownership once the bill is passed into law.

 “As we move to debate this bill with a view to passing into law to achieve the constitution’s mandate, we should ensure it satisfies all Kenyans,” said the Deputy President.

 Under the bill, land belonging to communities will be registered under a collective name and representatives will be in charge.

 Lands acting Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi, MPs Naomi Shaban (Taveta), John Mlolwa (Voi), Joyce Lay (Women Rep), Andrew Mwadime (Mwatate) and Governor John Mruttu (Taita Taveta) accompanied the Deputy President.

 And while addressing wananchi at Voi Primary school grounds, the Deputy President said issuance of land title deeds to Kenyans remains key to solving conflicts over land ownership in the country.

 Mr Ruto said acting Lands CS would meet with leaders in Taita Taveta County this Thursday and mark out the areas with no title deeds so that were processed.

 “I ask MPs and leaders from this County to meet the Lands Cabinet Secretary this Thursday and identify the areas with no title deeds so that they can be processed as soon as possible,” he said.

 He said surveyors would be send to the area to ensure all residents in the area are issued with land title deeds.

 He said leaders at the grassroots level should work together with the Government in carrying out survey and land adjudication with a view to issuing land title deeds to owners of such lands.

 “County governments, MPs and the Ministry of Lands should work together with surveyors in identifying land ownership in issuing land title deeds,” he said.

 The Deputy President said the Government in this financial year has set aside Sh 5billion for the revival of the tourism sector, which is the backbone of development of the region.

 “We are working with all stakeholders to turn around the tourism sector for the economic growth of the country,” said Mr Ruto.

 He reiterated that the Government would not discriminate any part of the country on matters of development on the basis of how they voted during the last general election.

 “We are all Kenyans and leaders should stop dividing Kenyans on ethnic or political affiliations,” he said.

He added, “There is time for everything. Elections are over and it is time we focus our energies on development and when time for election comes it is the people who will decide,” said Mr Ruto.

 The Deputy President said the Government was committed to addressing the problem of water shortage in the coastal region adding that Sh 40billon has been set aside to provide water for domestic and irrigation purposes to the locals.

 “We have asked the Coast Water Services Board to work together with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in ensuring the provision of water to the locals,” said Mr Ruto.

 He also said the region will benefit from Sh 15billion power project from Nairobi to Mombasa to solve the frequent interruption of electricity in the area.

 He said the national and county governments were working together in addressing the problems facing Kenyans.

 “There is no competition between the national and county governments because we have the same goal of service delivery to Kenyans,” said Mr Ruto.

 Mr Matiangi said land survey would be carried out to establish the boundary of the Tsavo national park in the county.

 “We will carry out survey on the Tsavo national park to establish its boundaries so that the locals can make use of the land which does not belong to the park,” said Mr Matiangi.

 He said the Ministry has processed 5,200 title deeds for residents in the area.

 Mrs Shaban dismissed those politicizing the sugar deal between Kenya and Uganda noting that there was already sugar from the neighbouring country in the local market before the deal was done.

 “Jubilee administration should not be shaken by the noises being made by the Opposition because it cannot solve the problems facing sugarcane farmers,” said Mrs Shaban

 Governor Mruttu said county governments would continue to work closely with national government in addressing the problems facing the people.

“I wish to thank the national government for initiating this project. This will go a long way in improving the lives of traders in this area,” said Mr Mruttu.

 He told youth and women to take advantage of the new park to manage their business activities to uplift their living standards.