Land Sector Corruption Persists Amid Reforms ¶
Corruption in the land sector remains a significant concern in Kenya, according to a recent report by the Land Development and Governance Institute (LDGI).
Speaking during the release of the report, LDGI Executive Director Mwenda Makathimo noted that enormous service-level bribery is prevalent in government bodies overseeing the land sector, a major concern to the public.
According to the report, 51% of respondents still found corruption to be rife in land transactions and rated it as high, while 49% rated corruption as low.
LDGI's research highlights loopholes in the management of land in the country, with corruption ranking high amongst issues considered most pertinent by Kenyans.
Respondents cited high corruption in Land Control Boards, nepotism, and favoritism, unmotivated members, and gender imbalance in the composition of the Boards.
Moreover, 36% of Kenyans view corruption as rife in the courts, with the institute concluding that corruption is still significant in the courts and that a lot needs to be done to eliminate it.
Majority of respondents were dissatisfied with the time taken by the Land and Environment Court to make judgment, with 59% rating the process slow.
LDGI is upbeat about the ongoing digitization of land registries, which they believe will streamline management practices and significantly diminish graft in the area of land.
LDGI Chair Ibrahim Mwathane supports and lauds government efforts in developing an online Land Information Management System to enhance efficiency and reduce costs of transacting on land.
However, tackling corruption in the administration and processes of land management remains critical, according to LDGI.
