This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
Published on November 25, 2019, a legal notice by the Ministry of Lands set up Isiolo County as an adjudication area, sparking debate over land issues in the region.
The devolved government, which is the trustee of community land in the county, requested an amendment to the legal notice to reduce its coverage area, citing concerns over land disputes and potential losses for local people.
However, a faction of legislators, including Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo and Isiolo Woman Rep Rehema Jaldesa, called for the revocation of the notice, arguing that the adjudication process could lead to the loss of large tracts of community land.
Isiolo County is home to several land disputes, including a court case involving the alleged illegal encroachment of land by the Kenya Defence Forces and unresolved boundary disputes with neighboring counties.
The 2016 Community Land Act provides for the recognition, protection, and registration of community land rights, management, and administration, giving communities opportunities to collectively use and manage land as communally-owned.
However, the Act also highlights the potential for abuse of power, particularly in the absence of registered community land, where the county government's role in managing and administering unregistered land could be exploited.
