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Storm over ownership: MPs want unutilised land taxed
Owners of big chunks of land across the country should be a worried lot as government might soon impose a levy on perceived idle land.
In an emotive land debate in the National Assembly which got the backing of majority of members, the speakers questioned why some individuals should own large tracks of land, which are lying idol while the country heavily relies on agriculture for food security.
The MPs want land not in use to be taxed, claiming that there are those owning up to 500,000 acres of land, almost the size of a county.
The motion by Kwanza MP seeking to publish the Rules and Regulation for private land use and management, outlining the minimum and maximum size of land holding in Kenya as stipulated in Article 68 (c) of the constitution has however been opposed by pastoralists MPs who read mischief in the setting the limits.
The matter generated interest with MPs calling for an urgent meeting between the lands committee, Lands Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Njeru and his Agriculture counterpart Mithika Linturi to come up with a legislation that will ensure land is put in good use.
Suba South MP John Mbadi didn’t not mince his words when he waded on the thorny issue, stressing that land is a central and critical issue in the 2010 constitution, warning that subdivision of land make not economic sense.
“There are people owing large chunks of lands lying idle. Some are even people in this house (National Assembly), I don’t have evidence but MPs own hundreds of acres of land doing nothing, just driving over the weekend to the farm and looking and enjoying how they are rich,” Mbadi stated.
He went on, “When they are compiling their wealth declaration report, they are listing how they have billions of shillings in land ownership which in real sense does not exist. So why would one own thousands of land acreage and live in one acreage. Let’s put land available in property use instead some acquiring it just for the sake of being a land owner.”
He sighted counties like Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega and Trans Nzoia, which have fertile arable land but there is no balance between building and providing land for farming.
“We can put the land in good use if we settle on tall buildings. These regions are also known as the country’s food basket but with these subdivisions, it will be impossible to farm in large scale,” urged Mbadi.
He was however quick to clarify that the setting of land ownership limits is not a plot to target ‘big shot’ land owners and ruled out a move to reposes the land.
“This route has been tried in other countries but failed like was the case in Zimbabwe. It was never successful. Those with idle land can lease them to those who want to put it to good use. I hope the new lands CS land will think outside the box. There are places where individuals have over 50 or 100 pieces of land. This land fragmentation reduces maximum usage of land. The Government should take motion seriously and the committee on implementation, should move with speed and ensure its actualized,” urged Mbadi.
He criticized, “Compiling wealth of million, there is not reason why you should 5000 acres of land. We are not saying it should be reposed, Zimbabwe has tried it. The government can buy land from these individuals, faring own economic.”
MPs Chiforomodo Mangale (Lungalunga), Cynthia Muge (Nandi County), Julius Meli (Tenderet), Reuben Kiborek (Mogotio), Rahid Dawood (Imenti North), Timothy Toroitich (Marakwet West), Edith Nyenzi (Kitui West) and Caleb Amisi (Saboti) among other MPs backed the motion, while Agnes Pareyio (Narok North), Rebecca Tonkei (Narok county) and Samuel Sakimba (Kajiado South) expressed their disapproval, maintaining that there is no idle land among the pastoralists.
“The pastrolists own big parcels of land for farming and cattle rearing. There is no land that is idle. This motion is purely targeting the pastrolists community,” protested Sakimba.
He stated, “Because of climate change, we are practicing agriculture economic zoning. We have group ranch are focusing on each owing 21 acres of land. We have rights of ownership.”
He recalled that in 2015, a proposed legislation to set the size limited flopped following a public outcry.
Pareyio and Tonkei opposed the move, saying it will violate the rights of their community.
The duo affirmed that they own big chunks of land but its utilized.
“The lands in Kajiado and Narok counties are not idle. They are for our animals and for farming. We are not going to support any piece of legislation that goes against the expectation of our people,” vowed Tonkei.
Pareyio added, “ ur land is not idle. I sold my animals and and raised money that made me come to this House. Land is an asset in my community. we acquire land through inheritance, buying.
“Locals have been threatened by private developers who have high affinity for idle piece of land. There are some people sitting in Nairobi who just look for idle land and establish private companies… and colluding with the provincial administration they go to find land and claim ownership. This is unacceptable,” faulted Mangale.
He argued, “Every Kenya can own land. We cannot have a situation where few who are gluttons own huge chunk of lands at the expense of the poor.”
Nandi county MP Cynthia Muge noted that fragmentation of arable land makes it difficult to do large scale farming.
“There are places that are gazette for special use but some people own land which is just lying idle. Article 68 of the constitution provides for minimum and maximum land holding acreages concerning private land with high population growth. In compliance with the land policy, farmers are able to benefit from the land use,” she notes.
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