By Steve Mkawale

Kenyans now want the Executive and Parliament to fast-track the establishment of key institutions that will drive the implementation of new land laws.

Stakeholders in the land sector on Tuesday called for immediate establishment of the National Land Commission and the County Land Management Board saying the enactment of some land laws had shifted focus on the creation of these institutions.

Parliament passed the National Land Commission Act, Land Act and Land Registration Act, 2012.

A study released on Tuesday by the Land Development & Governance Institute at Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi, showed that Kenyans were satisfied with the progress in land reforms but expressed fears that land related transactions were still long, costly and corrupt.

Releasing the report Mr Mwenda Makathimo, the institute’s Chief Executive Officer, said majority of Kenyans (79 per cent) were generally aware of the land reforms but 71 per cent were not familiar with contents of the constitutional and policy provisions.

“Only 27 per cent of those aware feel that the newly enacted land laws will lead to a quick realisation of land reforms,” said Makathimo.

The survey was carried out in 30 counties.

The institute noted that the process of setting up the National Land Commission and the boards required financial and technical resources.

“It requires suitable institutional infrastructure such as offices, staff and management systems. The process of mobilising the required resources, staff recruitment and the establishment of the required systems will be long and demanding,” said Mr Makathimo.

exploit vacuum

The institute further put the Ministry of Lands, Commission of Implementation of the Constitution, the State law Office and Parliament on notice over the implementation of complementary regulations.

“The process of developing such legislation calls for specialised multi-disciplinary competence and experience”, he said.

The report called for implementation of the Community Land Act saying in the absence of a suitable legal frame work to protect and govern the holding and management of the communal land, unscrupulous brokers, politicians and State officials would continue to exploit the vacuum.

Makathimo said Kenyans fear that the ambiguities about land in the new Constitution may worsen land conflict.