Ban on land deals to stay, says Governor
What you need to know:
- However, County Commissioner Harsama Kello was categorical that the policy opened doors on an industry that has been dormant for a long time and has cost the county government millions of shillings in terms of lost revenue.
- Eldamat Ward Joseph Mutunkei, too, differed with the governor, saying the County Assembly has already approved land transactions.
- The land policy elicited mixed reactions from a number of leaders with some, like Kitengela MCA Daniel Kanchori, terming it a step in the right direction.
Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye has refused to lift a ban on land transactions.
The ban was intended to protect land owned by the Maasai for its posterity, Mr Nkedianye said on Tuesday.
He spoke during the launch of the county’s land policy at the Maasai Technical Training Institute in Kajiado Town.
“The land policy that we are launching today is just a general pointer in one direction that land matters should go but it does not in anyway address the underlying problems that have plagued the land sector since independence,” Mr Nkedianye said.
However, County Commissioner Harsama Kello was categorical that the policy opened doors on an industry that has been dormant for a long time and has cost the county government millions of shillings in terms of lost revenue.
“It is about time we opened up the land sector which has unexploited potential,” Mr Kello said
However the governor in his closing remarks was categorical that the policy would achieve little without proper legislation to guide and protect the land sector in Kajiado.
“We want a situation where everyone involved in the land sector will be registered and be guided by a law that will have to be passed by the county assembly,” Mr Nkedianye said.
Eldamat Ward Joseph Mutunkei, too, differed with the governor, saying the County Assembly has already approved land transactions.
“We have passed proper legislation in the name of land policy.
“As the County Assembly, we have done our part and what remains is for the Executive to do its part and implement the policy to pave way for land transactions,” Mr Mutunkei said on the sidelines of a reception at the Maasai Cultural Resort in Kajiado Town.
The land policy elicited mixed reactions from a number of leaders with some, like Kitengela MCA Daniel Kanchori, terming it a step in the right direction.
Mr Kanchori however called for proper structures to guide the land sector in Kajiado to curb exploitation.
Mr Ben Bikuri, chief executive of YES Kenya, an orgarnisation that has been instrumental in drafting of the land policy, lauded the launch of the document.
He however said that a lot still needed to be done to comprehensively address the land matters in the county.
