This archive report was first published on 17 August 2019.
Kenya's Marsabit County has taken a significant step towards modernising its land governance systems, thanks to a joint initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the national government.
On August 17, 2019, the FAO handed over a Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratory to the county government, marking a major milestone in the country's efforts to digitise land services and modernise land systems.
The GIS laboratory, which is valued at US $13 million, is part of a larger project aimed at assisting counties in modernising their systems of land governance. The project, which started in 2014, has already seen the establishment of GIS labs in eight other counties, with over 100 GIS officers trained and employed to assist in running the labs.
According to Dr. Gabriel Rugalema, the FAO Country Director, the new system will enable the county government and the Ministry of Lands to plan for the management of vital resources, including land, with ease and minimal cost.
"By modernising systems of land governance, we are helping Kenya to meet the demands of the constitution for accelerated development and enriched standards of living for Kenyans," Dr. Rugalema said.
The GIS laboratory will enable the county government to collect data on land and all spheres of development, facilitating planning and decision-making. It will also enable the titling of land at the county level, reducing corruption and ensuring that community resources are used fairly and equitably.
Residents of Marsabit County will no longer have to travel long distances to seek land services, as the new system will enable them to access information and services at the county level.
"We also intend to increase the number of trained GIS officers to over 200 so as to make the labs more effective as one-stop shops for land services and access to information on investment," Dr. Rugalema added.
The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and is expected to end in 2021. The FAO has also announced plans to increase the number of benefiting counties by another 15, with Vihiga County already enlisted as a self-starter in modernising its system of land governance.
Ministry of Lands ICT Director Mboni Kyalo urged the county government to make use of the facility, which he said would help spur growth if utilized for the intended purpose.
Mr. Kyalo noted that the essential service will now be readily available to the residents, saving them the agony of travelling long distances as titling and printing will be done in Marsabit.
