Former Mukuruweini MP Kabando Wa Kabando has called out President William Ruto over the plan to allocate the National Lands Commission roles to the Ministry of Lands.
Kabando has termed the proposal as illegal and unconstitutional.
He said the effort serves to kill the spirit of the 2010 constitution that envisaged the creation of independent commissions.
"Ruto's roadside decree that the Ministry of Lands will take over functions of National Land Commission @NLC_Kenya is illegal, irregular and unconstitutional. It's a crude effort to kill constitutional governance and the spirit of CoK2010. A ploy to empower the Mafia at Ardhi House," he said.
Kabando went on to warn Ruto that the time for the creation of an imperial presidency is long gone suggesting that he has no powers to make declarations such that on NLC.
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"Rais Ruto should know that day's imperial presidency lorded it over the legislature, and judiciary, everyone is gone. Constitutional agencies have their mandate well cut out. Even "goodies" he's dishing in churches and burials shouldn't be unless budgeted and approved by Parliament," he added.
President Ruto on Sunday accused NLC of defrauding the government which is forced to compensate higher than the actual value of land.
In a new directive to curb the alleged unholy collusion, the Head of State declared the valuation and compensation functions will no longer be done by NLC but through the Lands Ministry.
The move is a deliberate effort by the President to check corruption in the land sector even as he reiterates his administration will not condone corrupt practices going forward.
“In my government, I have directed that there will be no any form of corruption,” he stated.
“I want NLC to listen to me carefully, because that is where corruption is rampant. Someone gives a bribe and a land that is worth Sh100,000 is valued at Sh1 million and if you do not pay your land is undervalued.”
Ruto said the commission has been attaching different prices of land in an area depending on how much one can lobby. That, he said, must stop.
“Lands commission has become a market, if you have money you can bribe your way. A piece of land that goes for Sh1 million ends after a valuation being Sh100,000. It is not going to be business as usual,” Ruto said.
