The Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua had written to all accounting officers, directing them to ensure that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) provide information on land under their custody to the NLC.
The land agency is expected to use the data to create a Public Land Information System (PLIS), improving management.
A status report by the NLC shows only 27 corporations had responded to Mr Kinyua’s directive and submitted inventory of land under their custody.
More than 150 State corporations are on the spot for defying a presidential directive to furnish the National Land Commission (NLC) with data on land in their possession, effectively delaying efforts to safeguard State property.
The Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua had written to all accounting officers, directing them to ensure that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) provide information on land under their custody to the NLC.
The land agency is expected to use the data to create a Public Land Information System (PLIS), improving management.
A status report by the NLC shows only 27 corporations had responded to Mr Kinyua’s directive and submitted inventory of land under their custody.
There are 180 State corporations in the country, according to data presented to Parliament by the Inspectorate State Corporations (ISC).
Among the agencies that have complied with the order include the Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Railways, Kenya Roads Board, Lake Basin Development Authority, Teachers Service Commission and Public Service Commission.
The National Hospital Insurance Fund, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital as well as State department of Immigration are also in Mr Kinyua’s good books.
Those that have failed to heed the directive include the Kenya Airports Authority, National Social Security Fund, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and National Cereals and Produce Board.
Others are Agricultural Development Corporation, National Irrigation Board, National Intelligence Service, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
NLC, through its chief executive Tom Chavangi, wrote to Mr Kinyua on February 18 requesting information on public land held by MDAs.
Mr Kinyua said the information will reveal the level of land utilisation and guide government provision of the resource.
Mr Chavangi told Mr Kinyua that public land data availability has been the main hindrance to the visibility of the inventory which has already been developed.
Auditor-General Edward Ouko has flagged lack of land ownership documents as one of the issues that leads to qualified audit opinions in most State departments and parastatals.
“In this regard, the commission requests your office to help access and acquire information about public land held by ministries,” Mr Chavangi wrote.
Mr Kinyua instructed all PS’s to ensure the information is handed over to the NLC saying the data will enable the government to create and manage a Public Land Inventory for national development. He said the information will facilitate the government relating to implementation of the “Big Four Agenda” and other policies to be implemented in future.
For instance, Mr Ouko has questioned the grabbing of several parcels of land belonging to KAA, NSSF, KRA and ADC among others.
KAA recently told the Public Investments Committee that it has no title deeds for five key international airports- Kisumu International Airport and Manda airstrip in the tourist town of Lamu, exposing prime land to the risk of invasion by private developers.
Eldoret International and Wilson airports titles are in the hands of private lawyers. KRA has not title deeds for 17 parcels of land, according to Mr Ouko.
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