The National Land Commission (NLC) under the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIPii) is conducting a land verification exercise in Tana River County.
Theverification exercise covers Hola Mission, Chewani, Wachakome, Makaburini, Kibuyu, Mwangaza, Ghalla, Malindi ya Ngwena, Jua Kali and Bora Imani settlements.
The settlements border River Tana that meanders in Hola town, the administrative headquarters of Tana River county and the exercise seeks to align approved plans with actual site conditions, verifying survey plans, identifying social amenities and clearly mark riparian reserves.
Riparian areas are demarcated at 30 meters from the highest watermark in line with environmental regulations and the survey act (Cap 299).
The exercise kicked off after a consultative meeting chaired by Tana River Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Andrew Mutua who emphasized the importance of coordination and proper documentation in securing land tenure.
He said land registration and documentation was a significant step towards strengthening land administration as well as a crucial factor in promoting economic growth, social stability and national development.
The critical exercise in urban and rural areas is being carried out with support from the county government of Tana River and other stakeholder strengthening coordinated land administration.
Stakeholders underscored the importance of verification in confirming genuine land ownership, resolving disputes, preventing fraud and strengthening security of land tenure.
The NLC team is confirming the planning, survey and ownership status of plots and assets to ensure there are no disputes before the issuance of land ownership documents.
NLCs Principal Land Administrator Kenneth Kiplagat says they are undertaking on-ground verification and validation of land parcels and beneficiary details.
“The exercise supports land governance, protects legitimate beneficiaries and promotes orderly settlements, planning and sustainable development in the region,” he said adding that NLC is committed to transparency, secure tenure and dignified living for communities.
Kiplagat said the NLC process safeguards land tenure security and guarantees that beneficiaries receive legally recognized documentation.
He appreciated the NLCs efforts in strengthening land governance through proper documentation.
Kiplagat said the verification exercise focused on confirming beneficiary lists, alignment of approval plans with developments on the ground, land availability and viability and identifying disputes prior to issuance of title documents.
He said the exercise marks a critical step toward land tenure regularization and sustainable urban and rural development under the KISIP II project.
“The process focuses on verifying beneficiaries, assessing infrastructure, identifying disputes early and confirming the availability and sustainability of land parcels for tenure regularization,” he said.
He said NLC is currently conducting onsite inspections to confirm plot boundaries, verifying existing developments and ensuring conformity with approved layout plans.
Residents welcomed the land verification and validation exercise which are aimed at accelerating the issuance of title deeds within designated settlement schemes.
Ibrahim Wayu, a human rights activist who highlighted the significance of title deeds, welcomed the initiative noting that it marks the first time people in the targeted settlements will receive formal land ownership documents.
Wayu said the process will secure land rights, reduce disputes and protect investments against land seizures.
“The title deeds will empower area residents to manage their land, wetlands, and the environment better,” he said.
By Hussein Abdullahi
