Residents Call for Strengthening Sub County Land Offices

Imenti North – Residents from the upper Eastern region of Kenya are advocating for the empowerment of land registrars and administrators at the Sub County level. This request was made during a public participation exercise on the Land Law (Amendment) Bill 2023, held at the Imenti North National Government Constituency Fund (NGCDF) offices. The exercise attracted stakeholders from Marsabit, Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu Counties.

According to Kenya News Agency, Mr. Harrison Marete from the Meru County lands control board, the current state of land offices is hampered by insufficient finances and workforce. He believes that government reforms in the land sector will generate more revenue, which should be reinvested to enhance the capacities of these offices. Marete pointed out that many residents in need of land services reside in remote areas, which are difficult for land registrars to access due to mobility challenges.

The lack of local services has led to some families being unable to obtain necessary documents for their land, making them vulnerable to land grabs by ‘cartels’. Sospeter Njeru from Tharaka Nithi County emphasized the importance of such public participation exercises in raising awareness and urged the ministry to conduct more forums to reach those who were not present.

During the exercise, Director of Survey Mr. Weldon Maritim identified unscrupulous surveyors as a key issue in land allocations in settlement schemes and riparian lands. He expressed confidence that the new law, if passed, would help eliminate fraudulent practices and streamline services through the National Land Information Management System. The bill is expected to enforce strict adherence to the law and close loopholes exploited by impersonators and fraudsters.

Senior Counsel Mr. Thomas Abuta, also part of the lead team, highlighted the necessity of amending outdated legislation in accordance with the 2010 constitution. He noted that some current laws, dating back to 1962, require review as the constitution mandates a revision of land laws every ten years. The proposed bill aims to introduce new land laws, reflecting the principles of the 2010 constitution.

The Bill proposes amendments to several acts, including the Registration of Documents Act, the Land Control Act, and the Land Registration Act, 2012, among others. It also includes the review of various regulations related to survey, land use planning, valuation, and land registration.