By M, KNA
Kirinyaga County government has rolled out a comprehensive digital land mapping and geo-referencing exercise aimed at restoring order in urban centres, resolving historical land allocation disputes also aimed at strengthening planning and revenue systems.
The exercise will also cover Kutus Kagio , Wang’uru, Kianyaga, Kerugoya, Baricho and Sagana towns.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rev. Samuel Kanjobe, said the programme is anchored on legal and planning frameworks that ensure compliance and transparency.
“According to the law, such an exercise must be guided by critical documents including the County Spatial Plan and for specific areas, a zonal plan. For Kerugoya-Kutus municipality, we are using the Urban Economic Plan to guide this process,” said Kanjobe.
He explained that the ongoing pre-mapping exercise involves capturing precise geographical coordinates for every plot noting that the initiative will help in easy identification of plots, strengthen planning and development control, and improve revenue collection.
“As we map the plots, we are picking their exact coordinates so that wherever you are in the world, you can identify where a specific plot is located and who the owner is,” he said, noting that such level of accuracy enhances transparency and accountability.” He explained, adding there has been a misleading notion that Kirinyaga has over 23,000 plots according to our register, yet physically that number does not exist.
The CEC said the exercise is also critical in resolving long-standing land ownership anomalies inherited from the defunct local authorities.
“In Kutus, Wanguru, Kianyaga, Kerugoya, Baricho, Kagio and Sagana, land was acquired for town expansion and original owners were compensated, particularly with alternative land in Mwea areas such as Gathigiriri, Marurumo, Dindiruku and Ngushu. However, surrender of title deeds was not always properly done, leaving some parcels still under old registration regimes.”
The mapping drive is also tackling cases of double allocation that have caused confusion and disputes.
“In towns like Wanguru and Kutus, you may find a single plot with multiple allotees. Some pay land rates while others do not. This exercise is helping us resolve such double allocations conclusively,” he stated.
The digital mapping initiative complements the county’s ongoing efforts to safeguard and recover public land.