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). The report highlights the need for swift and stringent action to prevent the situation from getting out of hand.
LDGI Executive Director Mwenda Makathimo noted that enormous service-level bribery is prevalent in government bodies overseeing the land sector, which is a major concern to the public. The report shows that 51% of respondents still found corruption to be rife in land transactions and rated it as high, while 49% rated corruption as low.
According to Makathimo, the latest figures imply that the incidences of corruption are still high, and swift action is necessary to prevent the situation from getting out of hand. He emphasized the need for more measures to enhance the integrity of officers, including corruption, accessibility, and awareness of ongoing reforms in the lands sector.
The report also highlights the concerns of the public regarding the Land Control Boards, with respondents citing high corruption, nepotism, and favoritism, unmotivated members, and gender imbalance in the composition of the Boards.
Furthermore, the report shows that 36% of Kenyans are of the view that corruption is rife in the courts, and the institute concluded that corruption is still significant in the courts, and a lot needs to be done to eliminate it.
LDGI Chair Ibrahim Mwathane expressed support for government efforts in developing an online Land Information Management System to enhance efficiency and reduce costs of transacting on land. He noted that user feedback should be used to improve the system incrementally.
However, LDGI asserts that tackling corruption in the administration and processes of land management remains critical, despite the ongoing reforms.
