A prototype land information system: case study of new Taveta town

Abstract

A land information system (LIS) is a computer based information system that enables the input, management, analysis, output and dissemination of spatially referenced, land parcel based data and information at mainly large (mapping) scales. This technology, which has matured in the developed countries, has been proven to be an invaluable tool for better land administration. The use of the technology is catching up in the developing countries Kenya included. The project aims to demonstrate how a computerized land information system supports operations such as search on land, land transfer, land taxation, land use planning and land valuation. The main objective of the project is to develop a Land Information System by developing a geo-database that incorporates both spatial and non-spatial attributes of land parcels in the New Taveta Town. The methodological approach applied in this study included; data collection and capture, data processing and verification, building a GIS database, joining of the spatial data to the GIS database, output of the results, analysis of the results and finally conclusions and recommendations.. The results of the study include search reports on different plots such as tax reports, ownership reports, property user reports, transfer reports among others; and query results by different users of the system such as investors, financial institutions, surveyors, planners among others. The Land Information System is easy to update, secure and facilitates quick retrieval of information. The security employed on the system include physical security, administrative controls and systems security. The conclusions drawn from the results and analysis of the study was that the computerized land records are easy to update, process, analyze and retrieve and it will be useful for the County Government to set up such a system. The recommendations drawn from the research include design of a program to link the Local Authority Information and Financial Management System to the New Taveta Town LIS so that information on taxation can be updated in real time as payments are being made, security of the database to be enhanced through combination of security measures from 4 layers of security control namely hardware/software/ data security systems, physical security, administrative controls and laws relating to security and privacy.