By Emily Mikwa
Kisumu County through the support of the FAO – led Digital Land Governance Programme (DLGP) has embarked on conducting land sensitization sessions in Kisumu West, Kisumu East and Kisumu Central Sub Counties.
The pilot exercise is geared towards promoting awareness on land Governance and administration, to educate communities on land rights, legal frameworks and sustainable land use.
The key areas included: land legislations, the need to use alternative dispute resolutions mechanisms(ADR), land allocation processes, land formalizations processes, land regularizations processes, succession processes, land registration process, land rates and rents.
The objectives of the DLGP is to enhance efficient and effective land governance through digitization of land records and processes, to improve conflicts and dispute resolution mechanisms on land and natural resources and improve and formulate inclusive policy, legal and institutional frameworks.
Some of the objectives of land clinic exercises is to provide and promote a forum for citizens to meet relevant government officials and key stakeholders to discuss key bottlenecks on land governance and processes, eliminate exploitation by brokers, bridge public knowledge gap on land and development processes, collect up to date data to aid effective planning among others.
Speaking during the session held at Kisian Hall in Kisumu West Sub County, the Chief Officer for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Development, Mr. Victor Kinyaura said the Huduma Mashinani approach to land issues has enabled expertise from the line departments from both national and county officials together with the financiers to hold forums that will inform the people at the grassroots on laws used, ADR mechanisms, government transition to digital platform among others.
He underscored the significance of the security of land tenure,as outlined in Governor Nyong’o’ s manifesto, especially on matters right ownership. He added that security of land tenure is key on improving investments.
According to Zembi Odera , the Land Technical Specialist who is also the Cluster Five in charge, gave highlights on DLGP, said the programme is a five year term, which began in 2022 to 2027. It’s being implemented in the 47 Counties and divided in clusters due to closeness and similarities on land issues.
The programme supports the agenda of both national and county governments with focus areas including digitization, distribution of land, and laws that are used or which needs to be improved for land governance issues.
On his part, the Sub County Administrator Mr.Rawlyns Angir, accompanied by Ward Administrators Mr. Victor Otieno, Madam Beatrice Ochuka and Daisy Okal played host to the clinic exercise saying it was a platform to share experiences from different expertise.
The area Chief of South East Kisumu Location, Mr. Tom Adundo together with his Assistant Polycarp Ochieng and the Senior Assistant Chief lower and Upper Kanyawegi Sub locations said land issues are central to human livelihood and having the right information at the grassroots is key since they play a role on matters succession.
The facilitators included : Andrew Ombewa the focal person, Mr. Steve Sule County Physical Planner, Mr. Protus Apida from Kisumu County National Land Commission, Mr. Joseph Meso from County Land Administration, Mr Boaz Juma the Land Registrar, Madam Priscilla Nyachama Surveyor, and Nelson Mandela the county land valuer.
Also in attendance were: the County Director Lands, Mr. Fred Misigo and the County officials from the department of Lands, Physical Planning Housing and Development.