This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
On August 19, 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta forwarded a list of nine nominees to serve in the National Land Commission to Parliament for final approval. The nominees included lawyer Gershom Otachi as the National Land Commission chairman, former Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi, Prof James Tuitoek, Ms Getrude Nduku Nguku, Mr Reginald Okumu, former Labour Cabinet Secretary Samuel Kazungu Kambi, Ms Hubbie Hussein Al-Haji, Mr Alister Murimi Mutugi, and former Isiolo Woman Rep Tiya Galgalo.
Activist Okiya Omtatah has expressed his discontent with the team that drafted the nominees, questioning their merit and suitability for the positions. He noted that Esther Murugi and Tiya Galgalo had applied for the commission's chairperson position, yet they were selected as board members.
Omtatah has vowed to take the matter to court, seeking to bar the vetting of the two nominees by Parliament after recess. He believes that the two nominees do not meet the required qualifications and should be dismissed to give room to those who are more qualified.
