Ferdinand Wanyonyi, Kwanza MP, proposed a motion at the national assembly on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 urging the government to set a minimum and maximum size for privately owned land.
Additionally, a portion of his motion suggests that public institutions like universities and national schools shouldn’t retain ownership of sizable parcels of land.
“Instead of expanding horizontally, they should do it vertically. They should build their buildings going up. The land left fallow should be used for food production,” Wanyonyi said.
The legislator proposes that Section 159 of the Land Act of 2012 and Article 68(c)(i) of the Constitution be upheld by the administration.
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“With high population growth and the demand for land have resulted in excessive fragmentation of land into uneconomic units. The population growth in Kenya is rapidly growing and we should increase food production to avoid famine and hunger that we are now experiencing,” Wanyonyi stated.
The national legislature is given the authority to set minimum and maximum tracts of land for private land ownership under Article 68(i) of the Constitution. Consequently, ownership sizes will begin to take effect after the law is created and implemented.
A scientific study on the economic viability of minimum and maximum land sizes has to be commissioned, according to the Land Act.
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His Endebess counterpart Robert Pukose seconded the resolution and said that maximizing land use will not only ensure food security.
Pukose continued by saying that using idle land will assist to reduce traffic in urban and semi-urban areas. The MP claimed that multi-story buildings allow for the construction of more homes.
Leah Sankaire, Kajiado Woman representative, objected to the proposal, saying it was incorrect to declare property useless since it wasn’t being used for agriculture. According to Sankaire, it disregards the cultural diversity of Kenyan groups, including pastoral communities.
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