Proposed law to bring together land matters

Those opposed to the clause on land as contained in the proposed constitution have been accused of not speaking for the public good and being keen to protect their vested interests.

Kenya Land Alliance national coordinator Odenda Lumumba said the proposed constitution placed the management of public land in the hands of the National Land Commission, which will help address issues of uncoordinated administration and management.

Impropriety

In an interview, Mr Lumumba said that the commission would be devolved to the lower levels of governance, promoting participatory management of land as opposed to the current situation where the President or commissioner of lands has immense powers over land matters.

Mr Lumumba said anyone who has read and understood the proposed constitution is sure that it will address impropriety and illegalities surrounding land allocation, especially public land.

“Those claiming land will be taken away are not sincere. Most of them are beneficiaries of illegal acquisitions or have accumulated huge chunks of idle land and are afraid of what might happen if the new constitution goes through,” said Mr Lumumba.