MPs retreat to Mombasa to discuss key Bills

By PETER OPIYO

MPs will be in Mombasa next week to discuss draft Land Bills that must be enacted by next month.

The Ministry of Lands and Parliament have invited all the 224 MPs for the three-day retreat beginning Wednesday.

An invite was sent to MPs to attend and participate in the discussion of the Bills ahead of the tabling in Parliament.

The Bills are some of the proposed laws required to be enacted by February 27 to activate the Constitution.

"The Ministry of Lands in partnership with Speaker’s Office has organised a workshop for all MPs at Pangoni Beach Resort, Mombasa from January 18 to January 20," said the invite.

Controversial issue

Parliament is required to enact Land Bills in line with Article 68 of the Constitution.

Land Chapter was a controversial issue in the run up to the 2010 constitutional plebiscite, with opponents of the charter using it as a provision to reject the document.

Input in the Bills would chart the way forward in the controversial land management.

The Bills will prescribe minimum and maximum land holding acreages in respect of private land. They will also regulate the manner in which any land may be converted from one category to another.

Also to be addressed by the Bills is the manner in which to regulate the recognition and protection of matrimonial property during the termination of marriage.

They would also provide legal framework on how to protect dependants of deceased persons holding interest in any land as well as the interests of the spouses.

The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution is also reviewing the three land Bills.

Under review are the Land Bill, National Land Commission Bill and Land Registration Bill.