Land Sector Corruption Persists Amid Reforms ¶
Kenya's land sector continues to grapple with corruption, despite ongoing reforms aimed at improving governance and reducing graft. A recent report by the Land Development and Governance Institute (LDGI) reveals a significant increase in land-related corruption, with 51% of respondents rating corruption as high in land transactions.
According to the report, corruption is a major concern for the public, with 49% of respondents rating it as low. The 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.
Speaking during the release of the report, Makathimo emphasized the need for swift and stringent action to prevent the situation from getting out of hand. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing the integrity of officers, improving accessibility, and increasing awareness of ongoing reforms in the lands sector.
The report further established that majority of the members of the public still view the Land Control Boards with a lot of suspicion, citing high corruption, nepotism, and favoritism as major concerns. The report also noted that 36% of Kenyans believe corruption is rife in the courts, with a significant portion of respondents dissatisfied with the speed of court processes and judgments.
However, the LDGI is upbeat about the ongoing digitization of land registries, which it believes will streamline management practices and significantly diminish graft in the area of land. The Institute supports and lauds government efforts in developing an online Land Information Management System to enhance efficiency and reduce costs of transacting on land.
