Kenyatta and the land issue in Kenya
Posted by African Press International on April 27, 2011
By Job Ombati, New England, USA.
Reaching out to Cheptumo and others:
Thank you Cheptumo, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I have read what you guys are talking about, land issue. I too a’m a Kenyan. I know, just like you have all stated,that land use is a big problem in Kenya. As Cheptumo as stated, it is true that Kenyatta was a land grabber as well as Moi and now Kibaki. I was born in Gusiiland, I went to school in Luo Nyanza and I worked in Nanyuki. I speak both Kisii, Luo and Kikuyu. I have traveled in the country from Taita Tavetta to Isiolo.
I know that there are people in Kenya who are homeless because they have no land to call their own and yet,our leaders have thousands of hectors of land that they did not buy or need. These leaders have set a bad precedent. They are bad example to our people. As far as I know, leadership is not about grabbing but a service to both God and man.
Now that we know this, we need to start as Cheptumo said,to seek for new ways of addressing the issue. The Ministries of Lands and Natural resources,planning and Finance should come up with a plan that will solve this problem for good. Every single Kenyan citizen deserves to own a piece of land to call his own. If we do not talk and solve this issue, it will divide our country even more. In 2008, I wrote my first book Kenya the Beloved and in this book, I have addressed these issues in
detail. If you care, you can get a copy of the book. In my book, land issue is problem number one. Tribalism is magnified by lack of land or desire to grab land. Tribalism is enhanced when we seek for jobs, food and other amenities. Tribalism is increased when we seek for those who we know, those who speak or look like we do to get us somewhere.
If anyone seeking for a job would get it,there is no point of searching for your tribesman to hand you the application papers. If every Kenyan would be treated like a Kenyan,given the opportunities equally in employment, education and other services,there would be no problem. Now, there is a problem because we do not treat each other equally as citizens. My view is this,we need to start solving problem number one then two, three, four and for ever. We need to face the problem, talk about it and solve it the best way possible. Therefore, we need to start asking our leaders to put this issue of land on top of their agenda. Today is the time to start, not tomorrow.
That is my take. What is yours?
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The writer, a Kenyan living in the US, is the author of Kenya the Beloved.
You can watch Job Ombati TV Show at you tube by writing: kgu elections 2
