Protecting public land is securing Kenya’s future

Public land is one of Kenya’s greatest national assets. It hosts our schools, hospitals, forests, roads, government institutions, security installations, water catchments and countless other facilities upon which citizens depend every day.

Yet, despite its immense value, public land remains under constant threat from encroachment, illegal occupation, irregular allocation and competing interests. Protecting it is not merely a legal obligation; it is a national imperative.

The National Land Commission (NLC) was established under Article 67 of the Constitution to manage public land on behalf of the national and county governments. This constitutional responsibility places the Commission at the centre of efforts to ensure that public land serves present and future generations. Every acre protected today safeguards opportunities for education, healthcare, environmental conservation, housing, infrastructure development and economic growth tomorrow.

Having been sworn into office on March 23, 2026, together with six fellow Commissioners, I have found the past four months both enlightening and demanding. They have reinforced one important lesson: public land management is far more complex than many imagine. Behind every parcel lie competing interests, historical claims, development aspirations and immense public expectations. It is a delicate balance that requires integrity, professionalism, transparency and unwavering commitment to the Constitution.

Kenya is witnessing unprecedented demand for land driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth and expanding infrastructure. This pressure has made public land increasingly vulnerable to illegal occupation and encroachment. Once lost, recovering public land often becomes a lengthy, expensive and divisive undertaking. Prevention, therefore, is far better than cure.

Protection of public land, however, goes beyond responding to encroachment. It begins with proper planning and effective management. This is why the Commission recently launched the Guidelines for the Preparation and Implementation of Land Use and Management Plans for Land Held by Public Agencies. These guidelines provide public institutions with a practical framework for planning, documenting, developing and safeguarding the land under their custody. Good planning reduces conflicts, discourages illegal occupation and ensures that public assets are utilised optimally for the benefit of citizens.

Equally significant is the Commission’s growing investment in knowledge and evidence-based land governance. Following the launch of the Kenya Natural Resources Atlas in 2023, we recently unveiled comprehensive inventories of natural assets in Laikipia, Samburu and Isiolo counties. These inventories provide reliable data on public natural resources and establish a foundation for better planning, conservation and sustainable utilisation. One cannot effectively protect what is neither identified nor documented. Accurate information remains one of the strongest tools in securing Kenya’s natural heritage.

Parliament’s recent decision to renew the Commission’s mandate on the review of grants and dispositions of public land, while extending by five years the period for hearing and determining Historical Land Injustice claims, reflects national confidence in these critical functions. These mandates are not merely about correcting past mistakes. They are about restoring public confidence in land governance, strengthening the rule of law and ensuring that justice and accountability remain central to the management of Kenya’s most valuable resource.