The National Land Commission is under fire from senators over the slow pace of resolving historical land injustice cases, with more than 2,000 petitions still pending. Lawmakers warned that the delay is leaving communities across Kenya, including Mombasa, Kiambu, Kilifi, and Taita Taveta, at risk of losing land they have long claimed.
During a Senate Lands Committee meeting on Tuesday , chaired by Mohamed Faki, officials from the NLC, led by Gerishon Otachi, were questioned over what senators described as persistent inaction. Faki called for increased resources and a clear strategy to fast-track resolution of the backlog.
“They are talking about 2,000 cases of historical land injustices. We recommend their budget be enhanced so they can move faster,” Faki said. “They must also come up with a clear plan on how they are going to manage these cases so the public can see results.”
Otachi explained that while the commission is handling many cases, resource constraints and limited staff capacity have slowed progress.
He emphasized that delays are not due to negligence, highlighting successful resolutions in regions such as Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi.
“It is not that we have not been working. In areas like Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi, we have cleared many cases. Others have been heard and only determinations are pending,” Otachi said.
However, nominated senators Beatrice Ogolla and Miriam Omar expressed frustration with the commission’s response, calling it insufficient.
“The reason why our committee has the highest number of pending petitions is because of the commission,” Ogolla said. “They are either unresponsive or give us general answers.”
The meeting revealed that some petitions filed as far back as 2021 remain unresolved. Among these are disputes over illegal land alienation in Kiambu, contested ownership in Olderkesi, Narok West, and claims in Mombasa.
A high-profile case involves residents of Marungu in Taita Taveta, represented by Robin Muchondi, who claim they are at risk of eviction from ancestral land due to alleged collusion among church officials, land officers, and local administrators.
According to the petition, the Holy Rosary Catholic Church requested 75 acres in 2007 to establish an orphanage and church. The area chief allegedly redirected the request to 1,000 acres, prompting opposition from elders. A surveyor later refused to excise the land since it was already settled, but the church proceeded to construct a building in 2019.
In 2023, the Ministry of Lands launched the Ngoloki Adjudication Scheme, which excluded the contested 1,000 acres and allocated it to the church.
“The adjudication omitted about 1,000 acres in favour of the mission. It is an injustice and a serious omission to allocate land without residents’ knowledge,” the petition read.
Senators warned that without urgent action, communities will continue to face injustice, undermining public confidence in the commission’s ability to manage historical land disputes.
