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Pick Lands minister MPs urge President
THE STANDARD
30. April 2007
By Francis Ngige
Four Members of Parliament want President Kibaki to appoint a substantive minister for Lands to address disputes. The MPs allied to Narc-Kenya said the President’s failure to name a Lands minister had led to the increased cases of land disputes. They were speaking in Nakuru.
The MPs said the recent clashes in Mt Elgon could have been contained had there been a minister in charge of the ministry.
The MPs were Mr Macharia Mukiri (Molo), Mr Waithaka Mwangi (Kinangop), Mr Muriuki Karue (Ol-Kalou) and Elias Mbau of Maragwa.
They made the remarks when they addressed a public rally in Elburgon centre in Molo.
"One of the failures of the Ministry of Lands was its reluctance to settle hundreds of people who were left homeless by the infamous tribal clashes," said Mukiri.
He said it was unfortunate that despite Parliament passing a motion on the settlement of the clash victims, the Government was yet to undertake the exercise.
"The President should move fast to appoint a Lands minister to assist in solving land problems," he said.
He said the 1,000 acres of land set aside for resettling the victims of Likia clashes in Molo were yet to be surveyed and sub-divided.
Mukiri said acting Lands minister Prof Kivutha Kibwana was busy in the Environment ministry, making it impossible for him to carry out his other mandate effectively.
Waithaka said the Ministry of Lands was crucial and by leaving it vacant, the President had made it difficult for land disputes to be solved.
"What is being witnessed in Mt Elgon could be a thing of the past had there been a Lands minister," the MP said.
"I have been to Ardhi House (the ministry of lands headquarters) many times and people are usually turned away since the acting minister is hardly available."
Karue said the resettlement of ethnic clashes victims was one of the pledges the Narc Government made before assuming power.
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