Former MPs benefited from public land, says Orengo

Former MPs got awarded huge tracts of public land when former President Moi was in power, Lands minister James Orengo has said.

Mr Orengo told Parliament that the land in question was annexed from that which belonged to the Kenya Meat Commission and shared out to MPs from the Coast and “Kamba MPs”. He said the decision was arrived at after the MPs asked the Moi regime for the land.

The Lands minister said 24.7 acres had been awarded to MPs from the Coast, and another 24.7 acres to the Kamba MPs. He added that 12.35 acres were annexed for the Kenya Girl Guides Association and 250 acres to a Maasai-Kajiado group.

It was not immediately clear if there were sitting MPs who benefitted from the land allocations.

Mr Orengo revealed that KMC did not know the amount of land that it owned across the country.

“There are lots of holding grounds that had been earmarked for KMC, which the commission does not even know,” said Mr Orengo.

Adan Duale (Dujis) said the KMC had placed a caveat on 16 parcels of land, and argued that some of that land had been grabbed well-connected individuals.

MPs in the House asked Mr Orengo to “name and shame” the MPs who benefitted from public land, and to also reveal if the lawmakers are still in the House. He promised to reveal the names in a fortnight.

He said the land, if found to have been acquired illegally, will be taken back by the government.

“We want these pieces of land to be returned back to the public; where it is necessary, I will revoke the titles,” said Mr Orengo.

Olago Aluoch (Kisumu Town West) said the minister ought to reveal the identities of the people behind the allocations and those who owned the land at the moment.