Chief Justice Martha Koome now says among the challenges facing Kenyans is a lack of integrity, which has brought about, among others, land disputes.
Speaking on Monday during the commissioning of the Nairobi Land Justice Working Group at the Milimani Law Courts, Koome said the issue needs to be addressed.
She said there is a need to address the vice, as it is among the root causes of land disputes not only in Nairobi but across the country.
This, she said, has been seen in issues to do with double allocation of parcels of land, fraud, impersonation and encroachment in public land.
"The 'land question' is even more acute in Nairobi with the myriad and varied land disputes that have been mapped by the Land Division to span a wide range including double allocation, encroachment of public land, mix-up during survey, adverse possession claims, lack of zoning and enforcement, informal settlements, renewal of leases, fraud, informal sporadic settlements, renewal of leases and subleases, squatters, adverse possession, disputes within land buying companies, Informal settlements and impersonation amongst others," she said.
On a positive note, Koome said the judiciary is committed to solving land disputes.
This move includes the recent establishment of the Environment and Planning Division and the Land Division within Nairobi City County.
Further, the CJ stated that with the commissioned Nairobi Land Justice Working Group, there will be targeted interventions which are tailor-made to address the unique challenges faced in different regions and sectors of the justice system.
"Together, we will pave the way for enhanced investor confidence, optimal land utilization, and, ultimately, the realization of social transformation through access to justice (STAJ)," Koome said.
