MPs press lands ministry on asset gaps and compensation delays

The National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday questioned the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning over unresolved audit issues flagged in the National Audit Report for the year ending June 2023.

The queries centered on asset valuation, compensation payments, documentation of land ownership, and progress in digitising ministry services.

Appearing before the committee at Bunge Towers, Principal Secretary Nixon Korir acknowledged that while asset acquisition by the Ministry is ongoing, there are no fixed timelines for completion.

He said staffing constraints that previously slowed the process had now been largely resolved.

"Previously, there was only one valuer per county, but we now have valuation teams operating in regions such as Rift Valley and Central Kenya," he said.

He also confirmed that digitisation remains a top priority for the Ministry.

PAC members raised concerns about the Ministry’s ability to manage its own land assets.

Aldai MP Marianne Keitany questioned how the Ministry could offer guidance to the public when it struggles with its own records.

"If the Ministry of Lands has issues with its own land, how will it help the public?" she asked.

Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo pressed for information on the depreciated value of the Ministry’s assets and progress in digitising land records.

"Other departments are digitising their services—how far along are you with asset digitisation?" he posed.

Turkana Central MP Joseph Namuar highlighted inconsistencies in compensation payments, citing instances where some individuals were fully paid while others received partial or no payment.

"We need to understand the criteria used in making these payments," he said.

He also demanded documents showing related court orders and how negotiations were conducted.

Committee Chair Tindi Mwale reminded the PS that similar audit concerns had been raised in the 2020/2021 financial year.

"It was budgeted for more valuers. Since you now have 129 valuers, kindly expedite the report. This Committee expects that by the next financial year, this audit query will not recur," he said.

In response, Korir clarified that some compensation payments had been managed by the Ministry of Transport and Roads, and that no funds were disbursed without official instructions from the Attorney General’s office.

He also said the Ministry had formed a Public Utility Committee to oversee land titling and accountability.

On digitisation, Korir noted that the ARDHISASA platform is now fully functional.

"Payments are processed nationwide through the system, which is integrated with e-Citizen to eliminate cash transactions," he said.

The Committee has directed the PS to submit a detailed report within a week.

The report must include court cases related to compensation—both concluded and ongoing—criteria used for payments, and documentation for all ongoing projects, including their start dates.