The conflicts, shortcomings, and implications of the urban land management system in Kenya

Abstract

Particularly during the last decade, there has been a clear recognition of the importance of urban land management in helping to alleviate urban poverty in the developing countries. It is argued that, managing the economic aspects of urban poverty has to aim at reforming regulations and codes that limit the access of the poor to urban land. This paper analyses the urban land management practice in Kenya. The analysis reveals that urban land management practice in Kenya has encouraged the politically, economically or socially powerful members of the society or those in authority to participate keenly in land acquisition and development. The result has been a situation of confusion and power struggles in the whole process of land delivery. The problems with urban land administration identified included inefficiencies in the public land allocation procedures, double and multiple plot allocations, irregular land allocations commonly referred to as land grabbing, re-allocation of plots, and land speculation and sale of plots. Some suggestions are made as to how the process can be improved in future. It is recommended that a policy framework and strategy for an improved urban land administration be instituted. This calls for an urgent need to formulate and implement both an appropriate and efficient land administration system as well as modernization of land information system.