Ruto: Give members of land-buying companies title deeds to avert conflicts

Deputy President William Ruto Saturday called on directors of land-buying companies to give members their title deeds in order to end conflicts.

This comes following the killing of two directors of the troubled Kihiu Mwiri, a land-buying company in Murang’a South.

Last week’s killings in Kihiu Mwiri has brought the number of murdered officials to eight in less than two years.

Four other officials are missing.

“All land buying companies should give their members title deeds to avert further ugly incidences such as those witnessed in Murang’a recently where two directors were murdered in cold blood,” said Mr Ruto.

The Deputy President, who was speaking in Ngeria Girls’ High School in Kapseret constituency, Uasin Gishu County during a fundraiser, called upon Kenyans to settle land disputes out of court.

“There is no need to take land cases to court.

"Instead, we should sit down and agree on the way forward because these land cases drag in court for a very long period of time without justice being served,” said the Deputy President.

TEAM OF SURVEYORS

Mr Ruto indicated that the government had dispatched a team of land surveyors to the counties of Uasin Gishu and Nandi so that land owners can be issued with title deeds.

“The team of land surveyors has one month to complete its mandate but we shall add them one more month if they run out of time because we are committed to ensuring that each and every Kenyan has a title deed so that we can develop this country moving forward,” explained Mr. Ruto.

The Deputy President was accompanied by Uasin Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago, Education Principal Secretary Prof Belio Kipsang, MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), James Bett (Kesses), Samwel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete), Peter Safari Shehe (Ganze), Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills), Cornelly Serem (Aldai), Jones Mlolwa (Voi), John Waluke (Sirisia), Beatrice Elachi (Nominated Senator), Siaya County Women Representative Dr Christine Ombaka and her Nairobi County counterpart Rachel Shebesh.

Mr Ruto also launched polio vaccination programme in Uasin Gishu County. The exercise, which targets children below five years, also kicked off across the country.

Mr Ruto also asked Members of Parliament to ensure that 80 to 90 per cent of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is channelled to education.

CDF

“MPs should make sure that in the Sh100 million given to each constituency through CDF, 80 to 90 per cent of this should be channelled to education so that our children can access quality education.

"Other projects like roads, water and healthcare can be funded by the county and national government,” he said.

Ainabkoi MP Samwel Chepkonga, who is also the Parliamentary Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chair, said the committee was going around the country gathering views from the public on a constitutional amendment bill that seeks to suspend the clause on the one-third gender rule in elective representation.

“As members of this committee, we are going across the country seeking views from members of the public on the one-third gender rule.

We want more women in our parliament,” said Mr Chepkonga.

Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter called for the reinstatement of suspended Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei saying that his comeback will breathe a new life in the agricultural sector.

“We have seen a lot of problems and challenges in the agriculture sector since Mr Koskei was suspended on graft related issues.

"We want him to come back and save farmers now that he was cleared,” said Mr Keter.

Mrs Shebesh said that the Jubilee government was committed in ensuring that the welfare of women is implemented.