NLC requires Sh4 billion to be fully operational, chairman says
By Monica Kagia -Mombasa
National Lands Commission (NLC) says it requires Sh4 billion for its operations this year against an allocation of Sh1.27 billion.
Chairman Gershom Otachi Friday said the commission therefore requires additional funding to execute its mandate effectively.
Speaking in Mombasa during a consultative meeting with the National Assembly Committee on Lands, Otachi further said the Sh1.27 billion, which is little compared to the amount of work the commission does.
“The challenges if addressed by the National Assembly Committee on lands will give us an ample environment to work in, especially we would like to address the issue of budget allocation,” said Otachi.
He said the new commissioners are still familiarising themselves with laws governing NLC operations.
“According to our calculations we will need over Sh4 billion for us to make good of our work, again, legislative matters are also challenging us since we need to understand our powers as a committee and see what more doors Parliament needs to open for us,” explained Otachi.
“It is true that some people who have been affected by the Dogo Kundu
and Mwache dam projects area yet to be compensated, but due procedure is
being followed and in due time all those legally competent to be
compensated will be given their dues,” he added.
Rachel
Nyamai, the National Assembly Committee on Lands chairperson, said that
they are working on a way to improve the new NLC so as it does not fall
into troubles that affected the previous commission.
“We are here to learn from them the challenges they are facing and ways
we can come together and improve their performance. As the parliamentary
committee, we are satisfied that this commission will work better than
their predecessors,” said Nyamai.
She said the open interaction forum is aimed at discussing in an open
manner, the challenges that are hindering efficient delivering of
services.
The MP said the commission has a big challenge of rebranding itself as it was tainted badly by the previous commission.
“They have a bigger job of reassuring Kenyans that NLC is competent to
solve their land issues, there is so much doubt especially by victims of
historical injustice due to what they went through from the previous
commission,” she added
