Taita Taveta residents have expressed concerns over the contentious clauses in the Community Land Act 2016 and the Community Land regulations 2017.
Speaking to the press outside the Ministry of Land offices in Wundanyi, the residents led by Wumweri Ghodu, lobby group chair Thomas Njumwa raised concerns over the approaching deadlines in the regulations.
“We are here to express our concerns over the elapsing deadline for the public awareness and civic education on the regulations. We appreciate the fact that the County Government of Taita Taveta through Governor Granton Samboja did write a letter addressed to the Cabinet Secretary in-charge of Land and Physical planning Hon. Faridah Karoney on the issue of land which is sensitive to the people of this County,” Njumwa said.
Irene Mjomba a resident of Mwatate stressed that community land should rightfully be registered to the people of Taita Taveta who have for many years suffered land injustices which has left many as squatters.
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"We have the right to register and own our land according to the constitution of Kenya, ownership of the community land is a critical issue that we want the leadership to protect in all measures,” said Irene on Thursday.
Her sentiments were echoed by Pamphil Nyange Chairman of Dawida Welfare based in Taveta who said the timeline given for public participation on the community land act was not enough for the residents to understand especially the registration of the community land, something that poses a challenge in ensuring that the locals own what rightfully belongs to them.
Baldwin Mwangoji a resident from Ngerenyi, said the regulations should be de-gazetted to create enough time for the locals to understand the Act and register their lands according to the constitution of Kenya.
“The regulations should be degazzeted to give enough room for civic education and public participation for everyone to understand the regulations,” said Mwangoji.
County Land Registrar Sego Manyarkiy, assured the residents that there is no cause for worry because the Ministry of Land and Planning is currently formulating a programme of public participation across the Country on the regulation.
“The Ministry is aware of the deadlines in the regulations. There is no cause for worry over the civic education because the ministry is now formulating the public participation programme across the Country to ensure that every citizen understands the law."
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"I will personally follow it up with the ministry in writing and get back to the Executive Member in charge of Land, Environment and Natural resources Janet Mwawasi,” Sego said.
Kasighau Ward Representative Ibrahim Juma who is also the County Assembly Environment and Mining committee chair, said as a house they have debated on the same and agreed that the County Government should draft an inventory of all unregistered community land within the County.
According to the CeC - Land, Environment and Natural Resources Janet Mwawasi, the County Government is committed to ensuring that land issues are addressed according to the law.
She said the letter written to the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Land and Physical planning Faridah Karoney by Samboja, seeks clarification on whether or not Sections 23 and 24 of the Community Land Regulation have been repealed by the National Assembly Committee on the delegated legislation.