The Kenyan government has initiated a five-year plan to register 348 community lands across the country at a cost of Ksh2.22 billion. The Ministry of Lands and the National Land Commission have released a Draft Community Land Mass Registration Master Plan for 2026-2031 and are inviting public comments until October 8, 2026. This plan aims to provide security of tenure and resolve land disputes.
The plan will start with 50 community land registrations in 2026 and scale up to 83 by 2030. An estimated Ksh6.37 million will be allocated per community for awareness, boundary identification, surveying, and title issuance. The programme will begin by formally identifying each community and setting up management structures before boundary delimitation and technical mapping commence.
The draft plan proposes using satellite imagery and digital tools for rapid mapping, with trained local residents assisting in field work. This approach is expected to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the land registration process. Boundary and membership disputes will be addressed through alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms to avoid protracted court cases.
Once surveyed, parcel data will be entered into the ArdhiSasa digital land system before community titles are issued. Public facilities located on community land, such as schools, roads, health centres, and markets, will be identified and registered separately where they qualify as public land. This will help to clarify land ownership and usage.
According to the draft plan, only 64 community lands have been registered since the Community Land Act was enacted over a decade ago. These registrations include 48 former group ranches and 16 former trust lands, spread across counties such as Samburu, Laikipia, West Pokot, Turkana, Taita-Taveta, Baringo, Kajiado, Garissa, and Tana River.
The Ministry of Lands and the National Land Commission are working together with other stakeholders to implement the plan. The registration of community lands is expected to provide numerous benefits, including enhanced land security, reduced land disputes, and increased economic opportunities for local communities.
The successful implementation of this plan will depend on effective collaboration between government agencies, local communities, and other stakeholders. The registration of community lands will require careful planning, execution, and monitoring to ensure that the objectives of the plan are achieved.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has allocated Ksh2.22 billion to register 348 community lands over the next five years.
- The plan aims to register 50 community lands in 2026 and scale up to 83 by 2030.
- Only 64 community lands have been registered since the Community Land Act was enacted over a decade ago.
