Lands ministry goes digital

By Athman AmranThe Government has begun scanning paper records at Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Thika land registries to convert them into digital form, Lands Minister James Orengo has said.
The move is aimed at developing a National Land Information Management System to ensure easy access and retrieval of information and improvement of service delivery.

Prof Patricia Kameri-Mbote (right) answers a question during the National Stakeholders Workshop on Draft National Land Commission Bill at Multimedia University, Nairobi , Wednesday. [PHOTO: ANDREW KILONZI/STANDARD]

Mr Orengo, who was opening the national stakeholders’ workshop on the Draft National Land Commission Bill at the Multi-Media University in Mbagathi, Nairobi, said the process would cover all land registries.
Simplification of processes
The minister said the reforms would also involve simplification of land transactions and processes.
Orengo pointed out that the ministry is now implementing a modern reference network that will facilitate accurate geo-referencing.
"The ministry has also developed and implemented an in-house integrated land rent database system in which people with leasehold properties can access their land rent information through the mobile phone SMS service, among others," Orengo said.
The minister said there would be need to revise and harmonise various laws as the National Land Commission will manage areas that had been functions in different Government agencies.
"The Ministry of Lands has prepared a draft National Land Commission Bill that seeks to provide for further functions of the commission, powers, qualifications of and appointment procedure for members of this commission and for connected purposes," Orengo said.
The Bill, the minister said, also seeks to make provisions for the operationalisation of the commission.
Suggestions
The Bill was presented to participants of Wednesday’s workshop so that they could make suggestions on how to improve it.
Orengo also said the ministry has prepared an initial Draft Land Bill aimed at consolidating various land laws, public and private land and related matters.
He said this Bill will ensure the National Land Commission functions through revision, consolidation and rationalising existing land laws.