This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
August 7, 2019, marked a significant day for the National Land Commission as former Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner-General John Njiraini withdrew his candidature for the chairperson position.
According to a letter to the selection panel, Njiraini cited personal reasons for his decision to bow out of the race.
‘I wish to communicate my decision to withdraw as a candidate for the position of chairperson of NLC in order to pursue other interests,’ the letter reads.
With Njiraini's withdrawal, the selection panel, led by Pricilla Nyokabi, will now have to choose two out of the 10 remaining applicants to forward to President Uhuru Kenyatta for nomination.
The NLC chairperson's job is one of the most challenging assignments, characterized by slow land reforms, infighting among commissioners, and several cases of corruption that have tarnished the commission's public image.
Dr. Swazuri's six-year term ended in February, and his departure was marred by controversy, including claims of fraud and inflated land compensation rates for public infrastructure developments.
