The draft spatial plan strongly decries land subdivision as a contributor to food insecurity
By Communication team
The county government of Nyamira has prepared a draft spatial plan with which it hopes to cure perennial land issues and bring sanity to land use, environmental sustainability, socio-economic transformation, equitable and inclusive development in Nyamira for the next ten years.
In the midist of continuous stakeholders’ engagements over the substance of the spatial plan is the emerging food insecurity that is imminent due to poor land use. Stakeholders are not leaving out any measure that will ensure there is proper and well-articulated land use so as not only to conserve the environment but also guarantee that food availability is not threatened going into the future.
In a stakeholder engagement workshop for technical validation of the draft spatial plan being held at Guardian Hotel in Nyamira town, with the county government top leadership involved, various stakeholders will give their technical input including those from the Ministry of Lands, Public Works and Urban Development (MoLPW&UD), National Lands Commission, the Nyamira Land Control Board members and other county government officers.
The workshop is being supported by the Digital Land governance programme sponsored by FAO and the European Union.
In his address to the participants, the County Spatial Plan delivery Project manager Mr. Lamech Nyariki appreciated the strides that have been made so far.
“As we deliberate on the draft spatial plan at the technical level, we are alive to the many challenges being brought about by land use. We ought to see how we can accommodate the matter of land fragmentation and food insecurity in these spatial plan discussions.” Said Nyariki.
Speaking during the event, Nyamira Municipality manager Ernest Morara said that the county government is doing its best to make the spatial plan a reality.
In her opening statements, Nyamira County FAO focal person Ms. Evelyn Bosibori Nyambane said that the spatial plan will greatly incorporate views from stakeholders on the best way to bring out a unified plan for use by the county.
To develop a well-researched and stakeholder involving spatial plan, the County government of Nyamira through the department of Lands,Housing,Physical planning and Urban development is working closely with partners like FAO- Kenya; the Council of Governors; the National Land Commission; the Ministry of Lands, Public Works and Urban Development(MoLPW&UD) so as to harmonize and compare notes on best practices that will see Nyamira come up with a blue print on matters land use for the next decade.
“The views from this discussions will be incorporated by the consultant, identify policy needs with reference to land use and land management and discuss on how to incorporate the findings and recommendations of a report on the Effects of Land Fragmentation on Land Use and Food Security into the spatial plan,” noted Sebastian Menza, a cluster four coordinator with FAO.
“Nyamira County has made some strides in the process of formulating its County Spatial Plan. Situational analysis and data collection have all been successfully done through a consultant. The consultant has prepared the situational analysis report which was subjected to stakeholders’ analysis and public participation. Further, the consultant has formulated a Draft Plan Proposal that is at the finalization stage. The county is also intending to undertake the preferred zoning plans for major and upcoming towns and market centers,” added Menza.
Further discussions about the spatial plan will move to other stages with more stakeholders’ participation forums, with the first bringing together members of the County Assembly, the Cabinet and the Technical Officers.