Murang’a: Land stakeholders have committed to collaborating and sharing data on public land to support the ongoing nationwide roll-out of Ardhisasa, Kenya’s digital Land Information Management System.

According to Kenya News Agency, during a forum organized by the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning held this week in Murang’a County, participants discussed the digitization of land services and the implementation of Ardhisasa and concluded that the National Land Information Management System (NLIMS) would greatly enhance transparency in land transactions.

Speaking at the forum, NLIMS Director Monica Obongo emphasized the importance of collective ownership in the digital transformation journey. ‘It is my hope that these engagements will bear fruit. We shall see increased land transactions and more landowners registering across the country,’ said Obongo, while acknowledging the support provided by the FAO-EU Digital Land Governance Programme.

Murang’a County Commissioner, Joshua Nkanatha, underscored the role of public participation in land matters. ‘Public participation is critical in land processes. I urge all public institutions to collaborate in identifying and protecting public land in this area,’ he said.

FAO Natural Resources Management Specialist Michael Gitonga highlighted the significance of partnerships and technology in improving land governance. ‘FAO recognizes the critical role of collaboration and is committed to enhancing efficient and effective land governance through digitization of records and processes,’ said Gitonga, who was joined by FAO Project Assistant Nancy Cheruiyot.

FAO’s support, provided through the FAO-EU Digital Land Governance Programme, demonstrates strong international backing for Kenya’s land reform agenda. The programme aims to equip stakeholders, from government agencies to individual landowners, with the tools, infrastructure, and policy frameworks needed for a seamless and secure transition to digital land management.

This forum follows similar engagements held recently in Mombasa and Isiolo counties. These events are part of a national initiative to expand Ardhisasa to all counties, with the goal of modernizing land services and ensuring transparency for all Kenyans.

The latest engagement, held at Nokras Riverine Hotel in Murang’a, brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Murang’a County Government, National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), the National Land Commission (NLC), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Prisons, and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), among others.

Central to the forum was the objective of sensitizing stakeholders on the benefits of Ardhisasa while promoting data integration and institutional collaboration. Participants also reviewed existing land-related datasets, identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities for improvement in the digitization process.

Notable attendees included Land Secretary Sarah Maina and senior officials from the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, including Jesse Waithaka (Director, Kenya Institute of Surveying and Mapping), Cyrus Mbogo (Director, Central Planning), Janerose Karanja (Director, HR and Management), Leonard Maritim (Director, ICT), John Maina (Senior Deputy Director of Surveys), Betty Atieno (Murang’a County Land Coordinator), Elizabeth Njoroge (Deputy Director Land Administration), and Jibril Adan (Head of Public Communications), among others.

With Ardhisasa, Kenyans will no longer endure long queues, misplaced files, or corrupt intermediaries. Accessing land records, applying for services, or verifying property ownership will now be just a few clicks away. The forums held in Mombasa, Isiolo, and Murang’a mark significant progress toward transparent, efficient, and citizen-centered land services and reflect the government’s vision for an inclusive digital transformation, one that empowers every Kenyan and ensures that no one is left behind.