Members of Parliament have expressed strong opposition to proposed budget cuts affecting the Ministry of Lands and the National Lands Commission (NLC), warning that these reductions could bring their operations to a standstill.
The MPs, led by Joash Nyamoko, Chairperson of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Lands, emphasized that the cuts might not only disrupt normal functions but also hinder critical activities such as long-overdue bill payments.
They highlighted the potential impact on revenue generation for the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning and the NLC. Following discussions with Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir, the committee has planned another meeting with the National Treasury to address these concerns further.
The proposed Supplementary Estimates No.1 of 2024/25 seek significant reductions totaling Sh121.8 billion from the approved Government Budget estimates.
“Going forward, no government project should commence before the owners of the land are compensated in full,” stated the committee.
Following the revision of the Budget and the subsequent tabling of the Supplementary Budget, which became necessary after the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024, no funds have been allocated for compensation.
The National Lands Commission (NLC) has urged Members of Parliament to reconsider the budget cuts, warning that many of its operations are at risk of grinding to a halt. The commission emphasized that its digitization plans and overall operations would be severely impacted if the budget cuts are implemented as proposed.
“Our planned activities, including digitization, will suffer greatly if these budget cuts are approved,” stated Chairperson Gershom Otachi. The commission highlighted its potential to generate significant revenue but expressed concerns about its ability to do so effectively without adequate funding to support its operational activities.
