MP denies claims he authored controversial Land Bill

Ruiru MP Simon Ng'ang'a Kingara. [File, Standard]

Ruiru MP Simon Ng'ang'a Kingara has denied claims of being behind the controversial Land Laws Amendment Bill (No 2) 2023. 

 The legisltator said his was the Land Amendment Bill 2022 whose objective was to amend the Land Act No. 6 of 2012. 

His bill, he said was aimed at providing that where public land has been allocated to a public body or public institution by the National Land Commission for public purpose or where land is set aside by persons or land buying companies for public purpose, the registrar of Lands under the land registration act 2012 shall issue a certificate of title in the name of the public body, public institution of the relevant ministry to avoid possible grabbing.  

''The primary object of the Bill is to amend  the Land Act No.6 of 2012 in order to provide that where public land has been allocated  to  a public body  or public institution  by the National Land Commission  for a purpose or where land set aside by persons or land buying companies for a public purpose , the Registrar of Lands  under the Land Registration Act ,2012 shall issue a certificate  of title  in the name of the public body,public institution  or the relevant  ministry  as the case may be,’’ he said in reference to his bill. 

Kingara said public land and land set aside for a public purpose by land buying companies continue to be grabbed by private persons primarily because there exist no certificates of titles issued in respect to such land.  

"The Bill therefore seeks to provide for the registration of land,’’ Mr Kingara said yesterday. 

As it is presently, public land and land set aside for public purpose by land buying companies continue to be grabbed by private persons primarily because there exist no certificates of title issued in respect to such land. This Bill therefore seeks to provide for registration of the public land,' he said.  

There was a big outcry from the public about the proposed levy on freehold land that was contained in Lands Amendment Act 2023 section 54 which reads 

"The owner of any freehold land situated within the boundaries of any urban area or city shall pay rent charged on a comparable leasehold land or property of the same size in the same zone.” 

The Bill was sponsored by National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichungwa and sought to transfer some roles of the National Lands Commission to Lands Cabinet Secretary. 

President William Ruto on Wednesday announced that he will not sign Finance Bill 2024 which had attracted almost Nationwide protests and subsequent deaths. 

Kenyans had termed the Bill as punitive and meant to overtax them.