LAND REFORMS IN KENYA AND AROUND AFRICA
This blog focuses on issues of land reforms in Kenya and around Africa and related matters
DELAY IN THE APPOINTMENT OF LAND COMMISSION GETS TO PARLIAMANT
Following relentless interventions by land sector stakeholders, the matter of the unexplained delay in the gazettement of the chair and members of the national land commission finally found its way to the floor of Parliament where it was raised by Hon Martha Karua (see story below which ran on the Daily Nation on Friday 28th December 2012). The country now waits to see what response Hon James Orengo, Minister for Lands, will provide. This is one of the most important constitutional commissions to the country, given its complementary role to the on-going electoral, judicial and institutional reforms, and it baffles observers that close to half an year since the interviews we concluded, the successful applicants haven't assumed office. Vested interests?
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Lands team’s delays linked to powerful State officials
Posted Friday, December 28 2012 at 00:30
In Summary
- The concern over the delayed appointment of the commissioners moved to the floor of Parliament on Thursday where presidential aspirant Martha Karua demanded a statement from the government
The concern over the delayed appointment of the commissioners moved to the floor of Parliament on Thursday where presidential aspirant Martha Karua demanded a statement from the government.
The Gichugu MP wants Lands Minister James Orengo to explain why the President has not appointed the commission, months after interviews were completed and Parliament approved the nominees.
Ms Karua’s concern came on the backdrop of demands by land rights activists to have the commissioners appointed.
She said elements in government who do not want the commission to be gazetted were blocking its establishment. Some activists are planning to move to court in an attempt to force the government to appoint the commission.
Interviews for positions in the commission completed in June and Parliament approved the appointments in mid October.
The commission is mandated to be in charge of public land on behalf of both the national and county governments.
