Nairobi
28/01/2025
The National Land Commission in conjunction with NAMATI on Tuesday launched advisory on fast tracking the transition of group ranches to community land in Kenya.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, NLC Chairperson Gershom Otachi stated that the Commission and NAMATI have been working with the county governments to disseminate the research findings to relevant stakeholders which have formed basis of policy formulation by the commission and other stakeholders
The chair noted that Arid and Semi-Arid Lands comprise of more than 60 percent of Kenya’s land mass with majority of this areas being communally owned.
“The promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya in 2010 marked a significant turning point, merging Trust Land and Group Ranches into what we now recognize as community land. The enactment of the Community Land Act in 2016 was a critical step, providing a framework for the management and administration of community land and guaranteeing tenure security for Kenya’s indigenous and local communities” The Chair added.
The advisory has established that the rate of transition is slow at a national average of 15% as of July 2023 with only 46 out of 315 group ranches having transited.
Commissioner Esther Mathenge Who chairs Committee Land Use and Research said that the commission with the support of development partners developed A reference manual for Community Land Management Committees (CLMC) which explains step by step roles of the CLMC and other actors.
NLC CEO Kabale Tache thanked the partners for supporting the commission in undertaking its mandate further noting that partnership in land-related research has proven essential in driving the Commission’s agenda forward and ensuring that policy interventions are informed by sound data and insights.
“We gather here today with a purpose that resonates deeply within our communities. We present an advisory on fast-tracking community land registration, which is crucial for safeguarding the rights of our communities.” The CEO said.
The CEO noted the advisory highlights the findings of the research on transition of group ranches to community land with emphasis on the status of registration, barriers and inclusivity.
Lands Cabinet Secretary Hon Alice Wahome said “I however wish to bring out the positive results attained so far with regard to the advisory’s core subject of group ranches transition to communities. Out of the 187 undissolved group ranches spread out in eleven counties, forty-eight have transitioned to communities. Laikipia, West Pokot and Kajiado counties with thirteen, five and two group ranches respectively have attained 100 per cent transition. Progress in Samburu County is also remarkable with twenty-two out of twenty-five group ranches having transitioned.