Tana River County to use Sh16 million on lands registry

MOMBASA: Tana River County will use more than Sh16 million to establish its own land registry in the current financial year.

According to County Executive for Lands Omar Buketa, the National Lands Commission had given the county government the green-light to establish the county land registry. Mr Buketa said the establishment of the registry would ease processes for residents, who have for years depended on a shared land registry with Lamu County.

He said lack of a local land registry had denied residents access to services, saying this amounted to injustice as the residents had to travel to Lamu, Mombasa, Garissa or even Nairobi to access land records or obtain documents.

“The people of Tana River County have for a long time suffered injustices pertaining to land conflicts and they could not easily process documents to resolve the conflicts. Many have lost land to grabbers,” he said.

He blamed the national government for neglecting the county and asked area residents to be patient with the county as it sets up structures to serve them.

“More than 50 years after independence, Tana River County still shares its land registry with Lamu County, yet the two devolved units have unique issues related to land,” he said.

“We have been demanding an immediate divorce with Lamu so that we can manage all affairs relating to our land here, and we are glad this is coming to fruition.”