Chairman Muhammad Swazuri says, “originally we had indicated a figure of Sh7 billion as the amount that would help us work effectively/FILE
Chairman Muhammad Swazuri says, “originally we had indicated a figure of Sh7 billion as the amount that would help us work effectively.”
“The Parliamentary Budget Committees and the Treasury revised this figure to Sh3.4 billion to which we adjusted to.”
“So far we have been given Sh700 million from the total allocation and we want the balance immediately and as they do so, they should consider increasing our total amount to at least come close to our original request,” Swazuri urged.
He added that the delayed funds are causing a hindrance in their delivery of services to the people.
“Without enough money even the devolving of the land commission to the counties becomes an uphill task,” he observed.
The Lands Commission chair further announced of the creation of a lands committee to adjudicate over alleged injustices in matters pertaining to land.
“We are forming a committee to oversee land historical injustices and we are going to gazette the names of the members.”
“The team will not only hear the cases but they will also be in charge of coming up with a law to protect the people from future injustices,” he stated.
This year, the country’s lands docket has found itself in a myriad of problems after the Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu was accused of unprocedural appointments within the ministry.
In a letter dated January 10, Ngilu proposed the promotion, appointment and deploying of public officers of the Ministry of Lands.
The Lands Secretary also called for the transfer of Assistant Lands Commissioner Joram Kimemia, Principal Registration Officer Jackson Wanjau, Kwale Senior Land Registrars Evans Marwanga and Joseph Kiprotich.
She further directed that the Kisumu Principal Land Registration Officer George Gachihi, Laikipia Senior Assistant Lands Registration Officer Lawrence Warachi and Kiambu Senior Land Registrar Jonathan Ndirangu be moved to other ministries.
Also targeted for redeployment are senior land registrars Daniel Nyantika (Nakuru), Jonathan Kimutai (Kajiado), Cecily Murage (Thika) and Renson Ongonga from Mombasa.
Ngilu’s appointments have seemingly stirred up reaction, with the National Assembly last year adopting a report heaping blame on Ngilu for the alleged unconstitutional appointments at the ministry.
Ngilu is also on the spot for contravening the Lands Act by creating the director general’s position and further appointing an office holder.
Parliamentary committees accused Ngilu of having breached the Constitution, a fact that could open the grounds for her removal from office.
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