Land unavailability holds back Trans-Nzoia investment deals

Most business pacts reached between Trans-Nzoia County government and potential investors are yet to kick off since the onset of devolution due to challenges of land availability, area Governor Patrick Khaemba has said.

Mr Khaemba says most of the investors have had to shelve their plans while others have relocated to other counties since most of the public and private lands available have legal restrictions.

“Most of the investors have been held back by the challenge of land unavailability brought about by ownership disputes that have ended up in courts of law,” he said in an address to the county assembly.

Factor of production

The governor was addressing the House during the official opening of the first sitting of the fifth session of the county’s legislative body late Tuesday.

The county boss noted that numerous land cases emanating from the lack of title deeds on most of the lands has been a major hindrance to development since land is a factor of production.

“The challenge is so immense that even my government is not able to carry developments on some of the lands we inherited from the local authority because some individuals are claiming ownership,” said Mr Khaemba.

Land titling

He, however, exuded optimism that an ongoing land titling programme which has so far seen 88,000 title deeds processed will help address the challenge in the near future to give room to developments.

“We are also holding high level talks with the lands ministry to decentralise the land surveying services from Eldoret to this county to boost efforts by each land owner to have legal ownership,” the governor said.