The Commission on Administrative Justice has called upon the Ministry of Lands to implement urgent reforms to streamline land processing procedures and enhance transparency in its operations.
Charles Dulo, the Commission’s Chairperson also advocated for the adoption of digital platforms to track complaints and improve efficiency as well as the training of officials in customer service and ethical conduct.
“These measures aim to address systemic issues in public service delivery, foster a more responsive and transparent institution and contribute to resolving Kenya’s broader land-related challenges,” he said.
The Ombudsman was reacting to a status report released in May last year on Administrative Justice and Access to Information Report where the Lands Ministry accounted for the second-highest number of complaints, with the Commission receiving 392 complaints out of which 186 have been resolved while 206 are pending against the State Department for Lands.
Also received by the Commission were complaints from the Law society of Kenya on land registries which were forwarded to the land and Climate Justice Committee of the LSK.
“From the complaints received from LSK, the majority relate to the Ardhisasa platform (14 complaints) most of the complaints were on issues of administrative injustice, abuse of power and delays,” said Charles Dulo.
“The incomplete digitization of records in land registries and the sub-optimal functioning of the Ardhisasa platform is causing inordinate delays and creating loopholes for corrupt practices to persist,” he added.
Following such inefficiencies, the Commission has given the Lands Ministry 60-days to review 206 pending complaints and provide intended actions to ensure prompt resolution.
“It is critical that these complaints are addressed without delay to secure individual land rights and strengthen public trust in property ownership in Kenya,” the Commission said.
It further recommended a transparent mechanism in handling complaints, address corruption, cartels, inadequate equipment and digitization of land records.
