The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
Taita Taveta County has continued to face many challenges related to land ownership, with majority of locals living as squatters on their ancestral land. This, among other things, has contributed to high poverty levels as locals cannot utilise their land effectively.
However, the recent announcement by Deputy President William Ruto that over 5,000 title deeds for Taita Taveta County have been prepared by the Government is a welcome, temporary relief, though a lot more needs to be done.
One of the burning issues at the moment, as far as land matters are concerned, is the contentious Community Land Bill.
Statistics are very revealing as to how the national government has continued to hold onto huge chunks of land under its jurisdiction.
Sixty two per cent of the county land mass is occupied by Tsavo National Park, which is under the national government.
Community ranches take up about 20 per cent of the land. This leaves about 15 per cent of the land to the community and the county as a whole.
According to the proposed Community Land Bill, community ranches will be under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet secretary for lands under the national government.
This will be a big blow to Taita Taveta people.
A county which has control of only 15 per cent of its land is totally deprived of this valuable asset.
It’s on this grounds that I call upon Taita Taveta MPs to join hands with their castal counterparts and lobby for the review of the bill, because if it’s passed as it is, we shall live to suffer for many years to come.
join