TWO laws proposed by the Lands ministry are out to undermine reforms, National Land Commission chairman Muhammad Swazuri said yesterday.
This comes as Parliament awaits to debate the two bills by Lands Acting Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
The bills signal radical changes in land management and administration.
Swazuri faulted the Physical and Spatial Planning Bill prepared “solely” by the ministry.
Swazuri said this is unconstitutional as there was no public participation at the drafting stage.
The commission prepared the Land Use Planning Bill (2015) which Swazuri says is in line with the constitution and the National Land Policy aimed at steering land reforms. It was ignored by the Lands Cabinet Secretary.
The NLC boss said the Physical and Spatial Planning Bill takes away approval powers from county assemblies.
He said it centralises functions under the national director of physical planning, where all counties should be seeking approvals.
This undermines devolution and lays the groundwork for land grabbing.
Speaking at Serena Hotel in Nairobi yesterday, Swazuri also criticised the Omnibus Bill.
He said it will clip powers of the commission by taking land registration, renewal of leases, management and administration of community land to the CS.
The bill proposes to disband county land management boards.
If the Omnibus Bill is enacted, Swazuri said those who acquire title deeds through corrupt means will go unpunished.
Swazuri said those keen on scrapping the NLC should call for a referendum instead of introducing underhand bills.