Written by Carolyn Wamalwa 2012-07-17 14:19:00 Read 498 Times

An aerial view of land in Nandi County.

Parliamentarians have been urged to bring to life the National Land Commission Act 2012 as soon as they resume their seating next week; to allow for the establishment of a credible body which will be crucial in resolving land crises as well as fast tracking major land reforms processes.

Ibrahim Mwanthane, the chairman of the Land Development and Governance Institute has asserted that chances of dubious land dealings are likely to be on the increase now that the country expects a power transition, and warned that should parliament fail to enact the Land Act, rogue land officials and cartels will woo the public into engaging in illegal land deals as they remain unchecked.

“The National Land Commission will bring a paradigm shift in the way public land is managed in the country. Since independence, public land has been abused grossly. The establishment of the commission will help tame all these vices. A more professional body will manage land appropriately,” he said.

Mwanthane further urged the ministry of finance to revise annual financial allocations for the lands ministry arguing that an increase in the allocation will enable smooth operations, hasten the establishment of the Land Commission offices both at the National and County level as well as ensuring success of their operations.

He added that this parliament should work on several options including pushing for a supplementary budgetary allocation to the ministry to help realize adequate funding of the operations of the commission.

He further elaborated on the need to develop a modern Land Information Management System of which he said will enable rapid and reliable land transactions, and help tame rogue land deals.

Mwanthane regretted that key land reforms had stalled owing to the glitch surrounding the formation of the commission, giving an example of the January cabinet directive which saw the freezing of public land transactions, which could only become operational in the place of a significant commission.

The National Land Commission is outlined under Article 67 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. It also provides for the qualifications and procedures for the appointment of the chair and members of the Land Commission.

Other issues that were highlighted as priority areas include the Environment and Land Court Act which will help resolve land disputes as well as the Land Registration Act 2012.

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