This archive report was first published on 28 June 2021.
Published on June 28, 2021, Governor Jackson Mandago of Uasin Gishu has urged the National Assembly to amend the Land Act to grant counties the authority to manage land matters independently.
The call comes as urban expansion pushes settlement into land previously reserved for agricultural activities, threatening food sustainability.
Speaking at a function in Soy, Governor Mandago emphasized that the national government still holds significant control over land ownership through the Lands Act, with only a few sections devolved to counties.
"I want to ask the national assembly to amend the Lands Act to allow county governments to have the mandate on issues touching on land management such as subdivision," Governor Mandago said.
He expressed concern over the diminishing agricultural lands due to subdivision for settlement, arguing that land reserved for agriculture should be protected to ensure food security.
The Governor believes that counties are closer to the people and should have all the mandates on issues affecting the public, including land management.
"If this mandate is given to us fully, and with my able assembly, we shall introduce a bill to be known as the Agricultural Land which will ensure no farming land is subdivided into plots," he added.
