constitution of kenya review commission (ckrc ... - ConstitutionNet

14not right. Thank you.Com. Bishop Njoroge: Thank you very much for those views, I can assure you that we are going to analyze that document.Now can we have Kemoiti James? Endelea.Kemoiti James: Mr. Commissioner, thank you very much for giving this opportunity to air my views. My names are KemoitiJames; I’m just giving a verbal contribution. My main point is that there should be equitable distribution of natural resources anddevelopment. Currently as it stands, there is a lot that tends to benefit only special areas in the country. You find most of theareas are so undeveloped while a lot of development is elsewhere, and I feel that that is not correct because we all pay taxesand we should receive equally what is due to us. Because when you take an example, like if you went to Teso District now,you will think it is not part of Kenya. There are no roads, people are living in abject poverty because the cash crops which aregrown there, their prices are low, payment is a problem, and so is actually a big problem. So, there should be equitabledistribution of national resources to all areas.Then, this issue of land Mr. Chairman, there is a lot concerning to land and in fact it is the lifeline of all the people of Kenya. So,my submission is that there should be equitable distribution of land. Currently in Kenya, there is enough land for every Kenyanif the process is well managed. Because, it is actually shameful to see somebody called a squatter in Kenya. When I was inUganda, I used to hear people called squatters and I was thinking that it was a tribe- I didn’t know they were people just likeany other people but actually it is shameful to have people “squatting” in their country and yet there is a lot of free land. Thereshould be a ceiling of land ownership.Com. Bishop Njoroge: How many acres?Kemoiti James: 100 acres may be should be the maximum. If that is done, then everybody will be entitled to at least- even ifit is half an acre so that he is settled there. Then there should be a lot of improvement on marginalized tribes. We have tribes inKenya which have been trodden on for years and in fact, when it goes to development, you find they don’t receive much andthey have remained in that state for years. Okay, may be it might be attributed to their lifestyle, but all the same, they areKenyans they also deserve their rights. Kenya as a country has had its image totally tainted by corruption. Corruption hasbecome a disease and it is all because people are rushing in for quick riches. The most affected area is the Land department;when you come to the Judiciary, it is even a problem to dispense justice.Interjection. Com. Bishop Njoroge: James, you know Commissioners are Kenyans and we know the problems. And theproblems will never get their way into the Constitution. What will get into the Constitution is the proposal you make toeradicate corruption. So, you can save our time by telling us there is corruption, this is what we suggest the Constitution shoulddo. That will help us even much more. So please don’t tell us about problems because we are Kenyans, we know them, we