Council of Governors Chair Isaac Ruto wants land functions devolved

Council of Governors Chair Isaac Ruto, has asked the national government to devolve management of land to counties in a bid to curb land grabbing.

Ruto, who condemned the Langata Road Primary School incident, said it is a clear indication that land management is better handled at the county level than at the national level.

“Use of teargas by police against protesting children over grabbing of the institution’s playground, was a clear indication that some individuals within the Government were bent in causing chaos to avert attention from issues on land for their benefit,” Ruto said.

Ruto asked the Jubilee government to immediately transfer land management to the counties in order to curb land grabbing and get lasting solutions to existing disputes.

“There is an urgent need for the transfer of the management of land by the national Government to the counties,” Ruto said.

The Bomet Governor was speaking in Silibwet town. He said land grabbers in the country should be named and shamed, and that all public land be protected for use by current and future generations.

On land leases, Ruto said affected communities should be involved: “Land leases for multinational companies have been renewed in the past without reference to locals whose kins were displaced, this must change.”