MP Bartoo’s petition raises alarm over land compensation

By Peter Ochieng

A petition by a Member of Parliament (MP) has raised alarm over land compensation injustices across the country.

The injustices were laid bare in a petition Moiben MP Phylis Bartoo, presented to the National Assembly regarding the resettlement and compensation of residents of Crown Land, in Moiben Constituency.

She alleges that Crown Land (LR. 883/2), commonly referred to as Sergoit Holding ground that totals 1,500 acres, was inhabited by several clans of the Sergoit Community, who used it for grazing, water catchment and cultural activities.

The land, she said, was however acquired by the colonial government for the establishment of public amenities such as schools, colleges, police stations and tree nurseries, among other utilities.

The legislator says that while some families received compensation through relocation to other parcels of land, many were left out as the land intended for the compensation was fraudulently acquired by individuals who continue to occupy it to date.

“In 1992, during the initial land allocation to beneficiaries as compensation, some individuals and entities were allegedly allocated parcels of land irregularly by the then provincial administration” she stated.

A Committee formed by the Sergoit Community uncompensated land owners to investigate the anomalies, she added, found that 450 acres were allegedly acquired and inhabited illegally by private developers.

The lawmaker wants the National Assembly, through the Public Petitions Committee, to engage the relevant Ministries and authorities to get to the bottom of the alleged irregular land acquisition, and the illegal compensation process.

“I pray that the Committee sees that members of the Sergoit Community who surrendered their parcels of land for public utilities are compensated.”

Endebess MP Robert Pukose in supporting the petition stated, “The issue of the former provincial administration taking money from individuals and allocating land is not just in Sergoit. It is something that has happened in areas where we have had issues of settlement. I too bought a Petition on behalf of the people of Chepchoina in my constituency.”

On his part, Kilifi MP Owen Baya however urged the House to enact legislation that would grant the National Land Commission additional powers to tackle land injustices in the country.

“The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 established the National Lands Commission (NLC) to look into historical land injustices, review grants and handle all the issues about parcels of land that have trouble,” he said.

“It is, therefore, vital that we stand up, as a House, and re-enact the law to ensure that the NLC continues to have the necessary powers needed to solve the many land issues that we have in this country,” added the legislature.