Dr Endege in a U.S-Africa business partnerships meeting in U.S -Pic/Files

“I’ve have gotten information from the Kenya University Project that there is 12,000 acres allocated in for past 20 years that has never being utilized even a single day for economic activity. The people of a country must not be taxed to build roads and then have land allocated to individuals for speculative purpose with an intention to gain later. This is one reason Kenya is importing food and the Kenya shilling is unstable. I for one would not hesitate to rewrite the law of the land in such a way that all land allocated is efficiently used for the purpose it was allocated and if not it reverts to the government National or County to await good plans,” says Dr. Endege whose research work in cancer biomarkers and therapeutics discovery at Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Chiron Diagnostics Corporation Inc. resulted into at least five issued patents in the field of cancer biomarkers and drug discovery. On Diaspora running he says, “Diaspora Kenyans will definitely add value the discussion and policy development process, and should go fight vigorously for all open seats by clearly presenting their ideas and solutions for the issues that Kenyans in different parts of the country need to have solved. Kenyans are yearning for leadership that will make a difference.”

Full Interview

You have stated that the former Maragoli Hills forest land was illegally harvested for profit by a former DC of Vihiga, an action that contributed enormously to the drying up of Wamobolea and Hambubo springs which supplied residents with water. How would you reclaim this resource of nature?

Bringing back this resource will be a tough uphill task. However, this can be done if the right policies are enacted in national assembly as well as county assembly that start with the stakeholders being brought on board and getting them educated about the value of the resource that was lost when the beauty that was Maragoli forest was brought down due to pure greed and insensitivity. The plan adopted would have to resettle the families living in the 600 hectares that was Maragoli forest, incorporate the replanting of the forest and developing it as an ecotourism attraction that will incorporate the birth place and initial residence of Umuloogoli that is located here as a museum. The development should also include an economic and research incentives and institutions and also farming of tree/flowers nurseries to generate seedlings for the region and beyond. The most important aspect of redeveloping the Marogoli hills forest must start by getting people to understand the value of the resources while at the same time create both monetary, social and cultural value for the residents of Vihiga who would be the beneficiaries of this.

In the U.S a state/region is know by the per capita income. Given the population of a County like Vihiga at 560,000 people, is it possible to create economic activities that increase Gross Domestic Product for Vihiga through legislative policies? 

Yes. This will be attained by instituting sound policies, adopting proper planning, the execution of the right type of investments by government and incentives for private sector. The best way to achieve this is to start by educating Vihiga county residents about the fact that poor leadership in Nairobi and new County assemblies can limit them from achieving their dreams in private capacity. This is why I thought the Diaspora joining race would go along way in advancing policy. The right statements have to come out of political news as well as the right policies if excellent educational, technology, innovation, research and businesses institutions will be established. Think about this just in Vihiga we most likely have at least 50,000 mobile phone users buying the phones and time usage and sending the millions they earn abroad where the products are manufactured. Kenya’s economy has to be made receptive and friendly to technology, research institutions and investors through the right policies. 

What is the minimum and maximum land that should be legislated to comply with the constitution requirement, Parliament shall (c) enact legislation— (i) to prescribe minimum and maximum land holding acreages in respect of private land?

I am not in favour of restricting how much land individuals should own. I’m for efficient land usage and imposition of taxes and penalties that lead to this if the land is not being put to productive use. I’ve have gotten information from the Kenya University Project that there is 12,000 acres allocated in for past 20 years that has never being utilized even a single day for economic activity. The people of a country must not be taxed to build roads and then have land allocated to individuals for speculative purpose with an intention to gain later. This is one reason Kenya is importing food and the Kenya shilling is unstable. I for one would not hesitate to rewrite the law of the land in such a way that all land allocated is efficiently used for the purpose it was allocated and if not it reverts to the government National or County to await good plans.  

Mentioning plans Constitution Article 185 (4) states, A county assembly may receive and approve plans and policies for— (a) the management and exploitation of the county’s resources; and (b) the development and management of its infrastructure and institutions. Should this be considered in the land bill and the resource of land be the responsibility to county assemblies? 

Plans advanced via the constitution for a County benefit the residents of the County. Most of the infrastructure that will be developed will be to link the production of this land to the national road network. I think for the residents to benefit from plans like University Projects, Research projects, Technology and even better management and exploitation of land resource for food production the decision should be fully transferred to County assembly. Ardhi house role can be reduced to national record, land policy audit and compliance, and management of land allocated for national use. I would advocate for a land law that sets the whole policy of land based on national needs through parliament and the management and exploitation based on County assembly and have departments of land management and exploitation under compliance to county assembly laws and Governors office, but those same office conforming to the National Government laws which would make the national land commission the keeper of the national record and auditor of Land policy.       

The County Government is given the role of County planning and development, including— (b) land survey and mapping. Does this mean each county assembly should control its land registration and sub-division process?

Again for the devolved system of governments to have any significance and muscle, they have to have jurisdiction on land issues. Such an important natural resource has to be controlled by county government. The details of how this will work as relates to the central government verse county governments is going to be work in progress as the county governments take root and begin to execute the rights accorded by the constitution. One would hope that by bringing governing closer to the people, we will improve significantly on service delivery and this should apply to most if not all land related matters.

Diaspora Kenyans have vast knowledge on complex devolved systems. What would you tell them in encouraging them to run for seats in the next elections?

Kenyans in the Diaspora have every right just like every other Kenyan to run for political seats as well as participate in the electoral process in Kenya and represent constituents wherever they want to run. Diaspora Kenyans bring unique and different life experiences that will contribute a great deal in the new devolved systems of government being implemented in our beautiful country. We should also be cognizant of the fact that our sisters and brothers residing within the country have original real life experiences that are going to play a significant role in developing the devolved systems of government too.  Thus, the best decider of who should represent the people will be the voter. However, Diaspora Kenyans will definitely add value the discussion and policy development process, and should go fight vigorously for all open seats by clearly presenting their ideas and solutions for the issues that Kenyans in different parts of the country care about and need to have solved. I have no doubt Kenyans are yearning for leadership that will make a difference.