Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i has today urged the National Land Commission to ensure that compensation given to land owners is computed within the normal market prices.
Matiang’i said that there are a number of stalled government projects facing challenges and delays because of the lengthy compensation processes due to overpriced quotations.
Matiang’i who was responding to calls by NLC Chairperson Gershom Otachi for increased allocation said that public officers must be honest while doing land valuation adding that they must be conducted with a lot of honesty and due diligence.
“Public Officers who have inside information of governments inform the public who rush and buy that land waiting for the government to start the projects then escalate the costs. If we compensate according then the commission will have enough funds to run its business,” Matiang’i said.
The CS however promised to engage his Treasury counterpart Ukur Yatani on the matter of funding, acknowledging that indeed the commission has work to do and the funds are limited.
Matiang’i was speaking in Nairobi today during the NLC Strategic Plan 2021 2026 launch also lauded the move saying that it will help deal with land issues which have been emotive for a long time.
“Twenty-five percent of insecurity issues that we have in the country are land related. This Strategic Plan will ensure that the commission contributes meaningfully to the Big Four Agenda,” Matiang’i said.
The CS lauded the new NLC Commission saying that it is focused and acts professionally saying that NLC and Ministry of Lands must always act in unison to serve wananchi.
NLC Chairperson Otachi on his part said that the commission has developed its Strategic Plan 2021 -2026 in order to guide the implementation of its mandate as spelt out in the constitution, statutory and policy provisions.
Otachi further called on the government to boost the Commision’s allocations to be in a better position to serve the public.
Other leaders present included the Ministry of Lands newly appointed CAS Alex Muiru, Florence Kajuju, Chairperson, Commission on Administrative Justice, Faith Alubbe, CEO Kenya Land Alliance among other leaders.
NLC is a constitutional commission established pursuant to Article 67 of the constitution of Kenya 2010, to manage public land on behalf of the National and County Governments.
by Alice Gworo
