By KARANJA NJOROGE

NAKURU: The National Land Commission (NLC) has cautioned Kenyans against continued sub-division of fertile land, saying the move threatens food security.

The commission said further sub-division of land, especially in the country’s foodbasket regions, should be curbed.

NLC chairman Mohammed  Swazuri said the Constitution allows the commission  to  prescribe the minimum  and maximum land holding in the country.

“There is a limit to which we can continue sub-dividing land. And this sub-division into small parcels in areas that are the country’s foodbasket should be stopped,” he said.

Speaking in Kuresoi in Nakuru County during a fact-finding mission on the controversial Chepakundi Settlement Scheme, Swazuri said the commission was determined to come up with solutions to land problems in the country.

He said the commission will decide the fate of the Chepakundi scheme by next month.

Addressing residents, Swazuri urged them to be ready to accept recommendations from his team.

“On February 4, we will call your leaders for a meeting in Nairobi to inform them of our decision following our visit here,” Swazuri said.

He said the technical committee headed by NLC Commissioner Samuel Tororei was working on legislation to address historical land injustices.

“We are not a fence sitting commission and before the end of the year, the committee will have finalised its work and we shall have a way of addressing historical land injustices,” he said

Swazuri said regions occupied by White settlers during the colonial period were the most affected by land problems in post-independence Kenya.

“In regions like Coast and Rift Valley where the settlers had interests, we have major land problems but in areas like Makueni and Kakamega, you cannot find such issues,” he added.

He warned beneficiaries of settlement schemes against selling their land as it was outlawed by the new land laws. 

Swazuri urged the public to shun dealings with brokers and bogus surveyors to avoid being swindled during land transactions.

The commission is on a two-day tour of conflict-prone areas of Nakuru County including Kapsita  and Oljorai settlement schemes.

Among those who accompanied the NLC team were Nakuru County Commissioner  Mohammed  Birik and the County  Executive for Lands, Housing and Physical Planning Rachel Maina.