- The lawmakers highlighted that the failure to address land disputes perpetuates historical injustices.
- MPs said failure to address land disputes also undermines the fundamental Constitutional provisions aimed at rectifying past wrongs and ensuring equitable access to land for all Kenyans.
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MPs have expressed concern over the lack of progress in addressing both present-day and historical land injustices, even after the enactment of the Constitution in 2010.
The legislator's concerns stem from grievances surrounding the renewal and transfer of land leases by multinational corporations without the involvement or knowledge of the community.
MPs are worried that lands rightfully belonging to indigenous communities are being taken away from ancestral owners through alleged opaque lease transactions.
Led by Moiben MP Phyllis Bartoo, the lawmakers highlighted that the failure to address the issues perpetuates historical injustices.
They added that it also undermines the fundamental Constitutional provisions aimed at rectifying past wrongs and ensuring equitable access to land for all Kenyans.
“It seems that the commission responsible for lands is toothless because it appears incapable of addressing land injustices in the country. This predicament is widespread across the nation,” Bartoo said on the floor of the House.
She called for urgent action to rectify the alleged injustices and restore the rights of affected communities.
Daadab MP Farah Maalim stressed the importance of tackling land injustices through the National Land Commission.
He noted that some multinational companies are allegedly occupying land taken away from original inhabitants.
He called for government intervention to address these injustices, emphasising the need for a comprehensive land policy that acknowledges both historical and current land expropriation.
“We must develop a land policy that confronts the historical and ongoing injustices,” Maalim stated.
He further advocated for the return of lands, whose leases have expired, to original indigenous owners.
Nandi County MP Cynthia Muge expressed regret over the alleged secretive renewal or transfer of expired leases in Nandi County to pseudo companies posing as trustees of the people.
She condemned the actions as fraudulent and serving only the interests of the perpetrators.
Kesses MP Julius Ruto said there is silence surrounding lands occupied by multinational corporations with expired leases, some of which undergo fraudulent ownership changes without community involvement.
“There people somewhere silently, when they know that certain lease has come to an end, they quietly start a process of changing the ownership and the lease period without the involvement of the community,” Ruto decried.
He called for a comprehensive resurveying of these lands to ensure the interests of natives and affected communities are catered for.
Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba called for parliamentary intervention to ensure the NLC reverts expired 99 and 100-year leases to their original owners.