The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development has issued a statement to clarify the scope of the newly enacted Land (Amendment) Act, 21 (No. 21 of 2025), following widespread misinformation on social media suggesting changes to land ownership regimes and the introduction of new levies.
The Act, sponsored by Simon King’ara, Ruiru MP, as a Private Members’ Bill, was signed into law by President William Ruto on 15th October 2025, with its commencement date set for 4th November 2025.
The legislation amends the Land Act to require the Chief Land Registrar to register all public land allocated to public bodies or institutions by the National Land Commission, as well as land set aside by developers for public purposes in their approved development plans.
It also mandates that all such land be published in the Kenya Gazette to enhance public awareness and accountability.
In the statement, Principal Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning, Nixon Korir emphasized that the law is focused solely on protecting public land and enhancing transparency.
“This law is about accountability and safeguarding public spaces, not interfering with private land ownership. Freehold titles remain untouched, and no new levies have been introduced,” said Korir.
The legislation marks a significant milestone in the ongoing Government’s efforts to promote good land governance, secure public assets, and uphold transparency in the land sector.
On June 11th this year, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome handed over the Lavington Primary School title deed back to the school’s management.
The land, originally allocated in the 1960s, had lost part of its parcel due to irregular allocations over the years. The recovery of the title was hailed as a victory for public accountability and a reminder of the vulnerabilities facing unregistered public land.
“We must not allow misinformation to derail a noble process. The public deserves clarity, not confusion,” Korir added.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all land governance reforms are transparent, citizen-centred, and anchored in law, in line with the Government’s agenda to promote efficiency, security of tenure, and equitable access to land resources.
By Catherine Muindi
