Land policies for growth and poverty reduction
Nairobi, 21 April, 2004 – Kenya’s Minister
for Lands and Human Settlements, Mr. Amos Kimunya, on Wednesday opened
a one-day workshop at UN-HABITAT headquarters to discuss land policies
for growth and poverty alleviation.
Mr. Kimunya said the need for a national land policy in Kenya had long
been recognised as imperative for sustainable socio-economic development.
Recently, he said, the appointment of a Commission for Inquiry into the
Land Law System marked tangible attempts towards the development of national
land policy.
He said the policy ensured the principles of equitable access to land
and associated resources, as well as the security of land rights for all
land holders, users and occupiers in good faith, including slum dwellers.
Mr. Kimunya also said the policy incorporated sustainable and productive
management of land based resources, transparent and cost effective administration
of land, sound conservation and protection of ecologically sensitive areas,
discouraging land practices discriminatory to women, encouraging communities
to settle land disputes through recognised local community initiatives
consistent with the constitution, and sensitivity to those affected by
the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The Deputy Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mr. Daniel Biau, said on
behalf of the Land Sector Development Partners the issue of land lies
at the heart of the challenge of economic growth and poverty reduction
in every country and that the importance of good land management had been
raised by the people of Kenya as a critical issue for sustainable livelihoods
and poverty reduction.
Secure land rights, he added, were critical to increasing productive
investment in both urban and rural Kenya and this would allow people particularly
the poor to contribute and benefit from the processes of economic growth
and transformation. Availability of land, was a major issue for the population
who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods as it is a key productive
asset for farming.
In urban areas, secure tenure is critical for upgrading the slums and
ensuring that the 60 per cent of the population of Nairobi who live in
poverty in informal settlements, have a sustainable future.
The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Makhtar Diop said land conflicts
were prominent in Kenya and that the bank was helping the government tackle
land issues. Mr. Klaus Deininger, presented a World Bank report, “Land
Policies for Growth and Poverty Reduction”. It argues that strengthening
poor people's land rights and easing barriers to land transactions can
set in motion a wide range of social and economic benefits including improved
governance, and the empowerment of women and other marginalised people.
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