Lands Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi addressing the media.
BY THOMAS KARIUKI
The government is serious on curbing a wild appetite of land grabbing, Lands CS Prof Jacob Kaimenyi has hinted.
The CS said that his ministry has put in place mechanisms that will deter land vultures in the country.
Kaimenyi also said that he will ensure that all statutory and regulatory requirements around land ownership and development are streamlined to safeguard the interest of the public on land ownership.
“This action is in a bid to curb cases of land encroachment by individuals, as experienced in some parts of the country,” added Kaimenyi.
CS Kaimenyi was speaking during the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors event at a Nairobi hotel today.
He additionally urged the private sector and financial institutions to collaborate with the government so as to come up with policies that will help streamline national land ownership and management systems in Kenya.
Kaimenyi cited the establishment of Kenya National Spatial Data Infrastructure that facilitates data sharing through the internet and the development and implementation of an in-house integrated land rent database system that captures leasehold properties in the country as some of his ministry’s achievements.
He also called upon surveyors to ensure that the contractors they engage are duly registered by the National Construction Authority for accountability purposes.
“If surveyors undertake their roles effectively there will be no illegal structures and constructions in the country,” he noted.
The CS said as the Ministry of Lands undertakes reforms to streamline its services and make them available to Kenyans, financial institutions and professional bodies should also strive to tame errant professional practices.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of National Housing and Corporation Eng. Andrew Saisi said the 40 percent drop in housing prices of some property in Nairobi will attract and increase investor confidence in the country.
