Lower Kabete, Nairobi
20th May, 2025
There is a need to hold land registrars responsible for their errors and omissions when fraudulently registering.
These were the remarks made by Presiding Judge Environment and Land Court Justice Oscar Angote who spoke on Tuesday while giving his Key Note address during the official opening of the 4th Regional Research Conference at the Kenya School of Government, Nairobi.
He said that the cases of land being registered fraudulently have found their way to the courts putting the court in a very difficult position to make the right judgement.
“In Hamran Ahmed Salim Vs The Cooperative Bank & others (2024) eKLR, the Mombasa ELC ordered two land registrars to personally pay damages to the tune of Kshs 7 Million for ‘acts of Misfeasance in public office.” The ELC Presiding Judge said.
In a very well-elaborated case law and several judicial pronouncements Hon Angote, said that it spoke directly to the theme of the Conference.
He added, “It reflects the constitutional architecture designed to foster checks and balances, transparency, and accountability in land administration.”
He commended the National Land Commission for a job well done in executing its mandate while reducing the squabbles with the Ministry of Lands, further noting that the two organizations have harmoniously worked for the benefit of the public.
NLC Commissioner Esther Murugi said that the Conference is both a reflection and a call for action to strengthen partnerships in the land sector for proper land governance in Kenya.
She said that the platform will provide a platform for all stakeholders and partners to have an engaging discussion and foster a collaborative environment for strengthening and safeguarding land reforms in the country.
“Collectively, these conferences have advanced dialogue, research, and collaboration among stakeholders, strengthening the link between sustainable land governance, climate resilience, and food security.” Said Hon Murugi.
On her part, NLC CEO Kabale Tache thanked the partners for their continued support during the annual research conferences.
She said that the conference will paint a clear picture of strides made and provide insights into areas of improvement promising the commission’s supporting realizing the much-needed land reforms.
The Conference theme “Taking Stock of the Land Reform Progress in Kenya” will run for three days.
NLC Commissioners Reginald Okumu and Hon. Tiyah Galgalo, Directors Ben Bett (Human Resource and Administration), Ben Cherutich (Finance and Corporate Planning), Brian Ikol (Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution), Peter Ouma (Head Internal Audit) and Amos Kasaine (Head ICT) were among those who attended the conference opening ceremony