Kisii: The Kisii county government in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the Digital Land Governance programme, has organised land clinics to educate residents on land use, planning and land governance.
According to Kenya News Agency, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Grace Nyarango, emphasized the importance of adhering to laid-down procedures in land transactions to prevent long-term court battles stemming from improper dealings. Nyarango highlighted that many land-related court cases could be avoided if buyers and sellers followed established procedures and involved surveyors, planners, and the community from the beginning.
Nyarango also addressed residents on the issues related to land subdivisions, stressing the need for extensive sensitization about its adverse effects. She announced that the land clinics would be expanded to all sub-counties and encouraged residents to attend these sessions to stay informed about land matters.
The County Land Registrar, Charles Ayienda, expressed concern over the increasing encroachment on public land by individuals claiming to have been awarded land leases. He pointed out that many of these leases did not follow the normal legal processes.
In addition, the National Land Commission's Director of Land Use Planning, Charles Kagema, asserted the necessity of protecting public land within Kisii. He reassured residents that a comprehensive inventory of public land exists and urged them to report any fraudulent activities to the Commission's Kisii office.
Fawcett Komollo, President of the Kenya Institute of Planners, urged developers to consult relevant offices for development projects and encouraged residents to make payments through authorized accounts while reporting any suspicious land deals. Komollo highlighted the challenges of uncontrolled land fragmentation due to rapid population growth in rural areas, weak implementation of land use plans, and lack of coordination between regulatory agencies.
During the clinics, residents were educated on various topics, including physical land use planning processes, development control processes, land transfer and succession matters, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, and procedures required for acquiring title deeds.