Monitoring digitisation of land records

As part of its performance management initiatives, the Lands ministry set out on digitisation of the registry, but an evaluation by the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) revealed little progress. The Lands registry, which is still manual, is faced with problems such as slow transactions, loss of records, difficulty in tracking files, manipulation of records, corruption and lack of linkages between departments.

The ministry is in the process of modernising records starting with four registries in a pilot project in Nakuru, Nairobi, Thika and Mombasa. The ISK concluded that over-reliance on donor funds has slowed the progress due to lack of funds for equipment and hire qualified staff; implementers of the system on the ground are not involved in its design; and use of casual staff has created lack of ‘ownership’ of the project.

The ISK said the government needs to commit more funds to the project, coordinate all stakeholders who are involved in the project, and conduct civic education for the public to trust in the new information system. 

Source: Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK)