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A study by Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) has revealed that Kenyans want decentralisation of the land administration and management so as to enjoy the gains of the new land laws, writes ALLAN OLINGO
Presenting the report titled Decentralisation and Administration: A case study of Narok County, the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya chairman Collins Kowuor said that the land issues need a broader outlook and a comprehensive implementation of the land reforms.
The case study that was carried out in Narok County has also called on the Government to carry out comprehensive land reform in accordance with the new Constitution.
Unless major reforms in lands sector are made, the problems the country is trying to end will not be achieved.
“The view of the Institution is that unless comprehensive reforms in the lands sector are implemented as envisaged in the Constitution and National Land Policy, the problems we are trying to address may not only compound but also continue to be with us,” Kowuor warned.
He urged the Government to expedite the formation of a National Land Commission to work out on the tasks spelt out in the Constitution regarding land issues and to end historical injustices in the country.
Kowuor said that the Government should revise and consolidate existing land laws and to enact legislation to regulate the conversion of any land from one state to another and also the enactment of legislation to protect and provide access to public land.
New laws
These three new land laws that came into effect on the May 2, after being assented to by President Kibaki, are mainly in accordance to article 68 of the Constitution. They are supposed to be enacted within 18 months from the effective date of the Constitution.
According to Eunice Macharia, the chair, ISK Research and Education Committee, the objective of the study was to document the best practices on decentralisation of land administration systems with a view to recommending a model that integrates all players and categories of land.
“We did this study to highlight the practicability, benefits and challenges that may arise in the transition to devolved system,” said Macharia.
Unique County
