Clerics demand Charity Ngilu’s sacking
What you need to know:
- The leaders were drawn from the Kenya National Inter-Religious Network, International Fellowship for Christ, Coast Inter Faith Leaders Forum and the Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council
- The leaders accused Mrs Ngilu of derailing land reforms by sacking and replacing land surveyors in various counties
Religious leaders from the Coast region have asked President Kenyatta to sack Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu.
The clerics accused Mrs Ngilu of over stepping her mandate and failing to recognise the National Land Commission.
The leaders were drawn from the Kenya National Inter-Religious Network, International Fellowship for Christ, Coast Inter Faith Leaders Forum and the Kenya Muslim National Advisory Council.
In a press briefing at Panaroma Hotel yesterday, Kemnac Chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao accused the CS of incompetence saying that the ministry was too crucial to be run by her.
“Ngilu has failed to run the affairs of this docket. She has failed to recognise the NLC which is an independent commission established to manage public land on behalf of national and county governments,” Sheikh Ngao said. (READ: AG backs Ngilu in Lands power tussle)
He further added that the Cabinet Secretary has taken over the signing and issuing of title deeds which is not one of her roles.
The leaders accused Mrs Ngilu of derailing land reforms by sacking and replacing land surveyors in various counties.
“We have over 40 million Kenyans, will we wait for her to sign all land title in the country? We need the President and his Deputy William Ruto to replace Mrs Ngilu with another person who will cooperate with the NLC to ensure that citizens benefit from land reforms,” he said.
Sheikh Ngao gave the President a 30 day ultimatum to sack the Cabinet Secretary and replace her with a person “knowledgeable enough to change the country and solve the endless land woes.”
“We want a reshuffle, we need somebody who can correct historical land injustices. Ngilu is not ready to carry out reforms in the ministry,” he said.
The clerics questioned the CS intentions and interests in the issuance of title deeds and the NLC and asked her to also concentrate more on housing and urban development.
They said that there was a scheme by the Ministry of Lands and the Treasury to kick out NLC chairman Mohamed Swazuri.
He claimed that the CS through the acting director of surveys Cesare Mbaria ordered all land surveyors not to avail plans to the commission.
Early this month, Lands Principal Secretary Mariamu El Maawy termed the raging differences between Lands Cabinet Secretary and the NLC Chairman as transitional.
Mrs Maawy said the differences which have been blamed for slowing down reforms in the land sector will be sorted out once new laws are put in place. She however acknowledged the existence of cartels in the ministry who she said were frustrating efforts to clean up the land register.
