Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has asked the National Assembly to amend the Lands Act and give counties a mandate to take full charge.
The Governor’s call comes even as expansion of urban centres pushes settlements into lands previously reserved for agricultural activities. Speaking at a function in Soy, Mandago said the National Government has the bigger say on land ownership through the Lands Act. “I want to ask the National Assembly to amend the (Lands) Act and allow county governments to have the mandate of subdivision,” said Mandago.
Mandago also decried diminishing agricultural lands through the subdivision for settlement adding that land that was reserved for agriculture should stay so. Saying that counties are governments that are closer to the people, he wants them (counties) to have all the mandate on issues that touch on the public. “If this mandate is given to us fully, and with my able assembly, we shall introduce a Bill called Agricultural Land which will ensure no farming land is subdivided into plots,” said the County Chief.
He quipped that the country risks losing in both economic growth as well as food security since agriculture is the biggest economic activity.
