The National Land Commission is studying provisions of the new bill stripping the commission of powers to value and compulsory acquire land for state projects. Many fear that since the Land CS is an appointee of the President, public acquisition of land may be misused to reward politicians as happened during the 1990s. If the new bill is enacted, Land CS Alice Wahome will be given powers to sanction land acquisition for state projects, a role that was reserved for the NLC. In addition, the proposed law establishes a land acquisition committee consisting of five members appointed by the Cabinet Secretary. “The independence and the protection of compulsory land acquisition process are being attacked,” he said.

Source: The Star November 06, 2023 01:25 UTC