Swazuri team exits with negative appraisal

Members of Parliament have delivered a harsh verdict over the performance of the National Land Commission, accusing outgoing commissioners of having failed Kenyans in their six-year stint in office.

The National Assembly’s Lands Committee indicted the commissioners, whose tenure comes to an end next week, over their failure to address 388 complaints from the public on matters touching on historical land injustices.

“We hope that the new commissioners will perform much better than the outgoing ones and fulfil the aspirations of Kenyans as espoused in the Constitution,” chairperson Rachael Nyamai (Kitui South) said.

RELATIONS

Vice-chairman Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga) expressed dissatisfaction with the work of the commissioners, saying he hoped the incoming one will perform better.

Laikipia Woman Representative Catherine Waruguru said the committee did not have a good working relationship with the commissioners.

“I am disappointed with the commissioners for failing to address the critical land issues,” Ms Waruguru said.

The parliamentarians now want President Uhuru Kenyatta to fast track the process of forming a selection panel to recruit new commissioners in a bid to avoid a leadership vacuum when the term of the current ones expires.

CORRUPTION

Ms Nyamai said the formal recruitment of new commissioners will take about four months and it is not tenable for the agency to lack leadership, owing to the critical role it plays.

The tenure of the nine-member team chaired by Dr Muhammad Swazuri ends on February 19 after their mandatory six-year term.

According to the law, the President is required to declare a vacancy in the office of the chairperson and members within 14 days of the offices falling vacant.

Other NLC commissioners are Samuel Tororei, Abdulkadir Adan Khalif, Tomiik Konyimbih, Silas Kinoti, Rose Mumbua, Muthoni Njogu and Clement Isaiah Lenachuru.

The commission has been rocked by controversy over corruption, especially concerning land compensation.