Only ministry can renew land leases, says Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu

By Karanja Njoroge

Kenya: Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu has maintained that it is only her ministry that has powers to renew land leases.

Ms Ngilu, while downplaying wrangles between herself and the National Land Commission, asked all those whose land leases had expired to return them to the ministry.

“People are talking about wrangles between the ministry and the Land Commission but there are no wrangles. The law is written so that it is followed,” she said.

She said no other body has powers to decide whether expired land leases could be renewed except her ministry.

“The law requires those whose land leases have expired to surrender them to the county or the National Government, which will then decide whether they need the land. If they don’t need it, the Government can opt to renew it after the Land Commission puts its seal,” she said.

She said the Jubilee Government will ensure that it meets it target of issuing three million title deeds in various parts of the country within three years.

“Watch this space. We are committed and plans have been put in place to ensure the three million titles are issued in the next three years,” she added.

Ngilu made the remarks in Nakuru during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Sh738 million Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP) in Nakuru town.

The CS said the Government was implementing major reforms, including construction of various infrastructure facilities, planning and surveying.

Housing units

She said 300,000 housing units would be constructed countrywide in the next three years through the public-private partnership.

According to her, 812 housing units would also be constructed in the Kibera informal settlement to benefit 4,000 families.

The Work Bank-funded KISIP project will include the construction of roads, lighting and sanitation works in the sprawling Kwa Rhonda, Gilani and Kaptembwa informal settlements.

Ngilu directed those implementing the project to ensure it is completed on time.

She said a programme to improve housing conditions for police would be launched in August.

Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said the KISIP project would lead to improved security, which will spur a 24-hour economy.

Mr Mbugua said under the project, 20km of roads and 861 foot paths in Kaptembwa and Kwa Rhonda would be improved.

“We will also have six high masts to light up the area and the replacement of 2,400 water pipes and we intend to ensure the project moves in accordance with the plan,” he said.

A similar project, worth Sh1 billion, will soon be commissioned in Naivasha town.