Many Kenyans have been forced to wait for decades to get land documents, such as title deeds and completed land transfers, processed by the Ministry of Lands. Some have waited for over 25 years, with no resolution to their land issues.
According to a report by the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), also known as the Ombudsman, complaints about land administration rank among the highest in the country.
The report revealed that the Ministry of Lands accounted for the second-largest number of complaints received by the commission, making up seven percent of all reported cases.
“A significant number of citizens have reported excessive delays when seeking essential services such as the issuance of title deeds,” the Ombudsman noted.
Since 2019, the commission has received 392 complaints against the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning. Out of these, only 186 cases have been resolved, while 206 remain unresolved.
Long Delays and Corruption in Land Processing
The biggest issue plaguing the Ministry of Lands is the endless delays in processing land transactions.
According to the report, some cases involving title deeds and land transfers have been delayed for three to four years. However, more extreme cases exist, where 119 complaints have dragged on for between 4 to 15 years.
In even worse cases, eight land matters have been unresolved for up to 25 years, while two have remained pending for over 25 years.
One of the main challenges is that officials within the ministry are largely unresponsive to complaints filed by landowners.
Many Kenyans who raise concerns about their stalled land transactions often receive no communication from the ministry, leaving them frustrated and helpless.
Beyond inefficiency, the ministry has been accused of deliberately blocking access to information, treating Kenyans unfairly, and engaging in corrupt practices.
Reports indicate that some officials misuse their power, take advantage of desperate landowners, and demand bribes to process documents that should be issued for free.
Government Response and Promises
Delays and irregularities in land matters have long been a problem at the Ministry of Lands. Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has acknowledged these challenges on multiple occasions.
She has assured Kenyans that the ministry is actively working to resolve the backlog of cases and improve service delivery.
Wahome recently announced that the ministry aims to process and issue at least 420,000 title deeds between 2024 and 2025. However, whether this target will be met remains uncertain, as land issues continue to pile up.
Title deed delays are just one of many problems in the ministry. Other challenges include land grabbing, double allocation of plots, and unresolved disputes involving squatters.
Many Kenyans have lost land due to fraudulent transactions facilitated by corrupt officials.
To address these challenges, the government has introduced several reforms, including:
- Digitalization of land records to reduce human interference and corruption
- The establishment of a Land Information Management System (LIMS) for better record-keeping
- Public engagement forums to allow Kenyans to voice their concerns
- Staff restructuring to remove corrupt officials
- Policy changes aimed at improving efficiency in land transactions
However, despite these measures, the problems persist, and many Kenyans continue to suffer due to the ministry’s inefficiencies.
Ombudsman’s Ultimatum to the Ministry
Following numerous complaints, the Ombudsman has now ordered the Ministry of Lands to take immediate action.
Specifically, Principal Secretary for Lands, Nixon Korir, has been given 60 days to resolve all pending complaints. If he fails to do so, he risks being declared unfit to hold public office.
“The Principal Secretary must process and resolve all the pending complaints within 60 days and submit a compliance report to the Commission.
Failure to do so will result in the Commission issuing a notice requiring him to explain why he should not be declared unfit to hold public office,” the Ombudsman warned.
With this ultimatum in place, Kenyans are watching closely to see whether the Ministry of Lands will finally take action to end the suffering of thousands of landowners who have waited for years to obtain their rightful documents.
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