Land records computerised to ease access

Brisk hi-tech changes are opening up new frontiers in land tenure reform in Marsabit County, which occupies 16 percent of Kenya’s land mass. Marsabit is 75,691 square kilometres, making it arguably the largest and most expansive county in Kenya. Most of the virgin land is communally owned.

The residents have for a long time had issues with the acquisition of land title deeds, but with the fresh adjudication of land being conducted by the county government this problem is in the process be resolved. The county administration is in the process of getting Marsabit registered as a land registry in consultation with the national government.

Modern technology is being applied to simplify registration through a more visible and easily accessible, computerised format. The county is also exploring options of using the geographic information systems (GIS) obtained from satellites to archive data for easy access to companies, individuals and communities.

More than five GPS machines have been secured to hasten the process. The move is intended to help register all land and create title deeds and land tenure maps. 

Dr Laban MacOpiyo of LARMAT Leads a Field
Assessment Team in Marsabit County

“Digitalised lands registration can assist develop market-based economies and give us a clearer picture of their tax base”, says county executive member for Lands, Ms Yasmin Abdulkadir, adding: “We anticipate our tax system to grow once the land tenure system and taxation is wholly computerized.’’

Given that land is the most important resource in agricultural production, the Marsabit County government is encouraging private ownership of land to attract investments. Most of the land is under communal ownership and that individual ownership is limited to very few people, sufficient land will be made available for serious investors.

The new constitution changed trust land to communal land, which means that such land cannot be alienated. According to the Community Land Bill, currently under review, county governments have express authority and power to hold unregistered community land.

This provision in law is anticipated to take place once the Bill sails through the legal process of promulgation. The proposed Bill defines ‘community’ within the spaces of owning land, including the right of the individual owners, the community and the government.

Ms Abdulkadir says demarcating land owned by small landholders will help residents to obtain mortgage-backed loans. Data obtained through digitalisation, when integrated with satellite and other information sources, will promote effective land management.

Land adjudication is ongoing in Sagante I block and 98 per cent of registration queries and registration of unregistered parcels of land. In Jirime it has been concluded and data transmitted to the Ministry of Lands and Housing headquarters at Ardhi House for the processing of titles.

Over 1,600 title deeds for Jirme are ready, awaiting issuance, while for the Songa/Kituruni adjudication section the process of factoring in previously missed parcel of lands during earlier demarcation exercise resolving disputes is almost complete.

The county administration is optimistic that the changes will foster development in the land sector, which has been emotive for successive generations.

Lands programme for 2014-2015

The county’s Lands department has set out the following priorities in the 2013/2014 financial year: Demarcation of already declared land adjudication sections. Acquisition of modern survey equipment.

Physical planning of four upcoming towns.

Aerial photography of the four sub-county towns for a proper plan development, Fast-tracking of the issuance of title deeds of all land  adjudicated sections in the County.

Physical Planning

Three upcoming towns have been earmarked for planning this financial year - North-Horr, Sololo , Laisamis and updating of Marsabit Town Development Plan.

Survey

Marsabit County has acquired modern land survey equipment at a cost of Sh6.8 Million and targets to upgrade the lands offices.Sh5.3  million  has  been  allocated to renovate the Marsabit and Moyale lands offices.

Housing

Housing is one of the key areas that the administration is eyeing because of rapid urbanisation. The construction of three appropriate building technology (ABT) centre’s in Marsabit North, South and Moyale sub-counties and each has been allocated Sh4 million. Contracts have been awarded for implementation.