Kilifi Public outcry

Abstract

The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) received 16 complaints from members of the public alleging delay, unresponsiveness, discourtesy and abuse of power by officials in the Ministry of Lands office in Kilifi. The complaints centered on delay in boundary dispute resolution or boundary verification and processing and issuance of title deeds. These complaints prompted the Commission to conduct investigations with a view to establish the veracity of the allegations. CAJ wrote to the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Land and Physical Planning on the 24th January, 2017 to notify her of its decision to conduct the investigations. The investigation team visited the offices of Ministry of Lands, Kilifi and in particular Lands Registry, Survey and Adjudication and Settlement departments. The team interviewed a number of officers and randomly selected complainants and recovered several documents relevant to the matter under investigation. The information gathered was analyzed to inform the findings of the investigations. The investigations established that the Ministry of lands in Kilifi County is composed of three departments, namely Lands Registry, Survey and Adjudication and Settlement Schemes. Kilifi Land Registry has three Land Registrars, two clerks and one support staff. Among the three Registrars only one handles all matters pertaining to boundary disputes. Of the two clerks, one is currently attached to the Land Control Board. The Survey department has a District Surveyor (in-charge), two Surveyors, Clerical Officer and one support staff. Adjudication and Settlement Scheme Department has Chief Land Adjudication and Settlement Officer, Land Adjudication and Settlement Officer, Senior Assistant Agricultural Officer, Seven (7) Land Adjudication and Settlement Officers, one support staff and one Accountant. CAJ investigations established both systemic and human factors affect service delivery in the Ministry of lands in Kilifi County. The systemic factors identified as First Draft affecting service delivery negatively included firstly, delay associated with the issuance and enforcement of summons and the resolutions of cases relating to land disputes and verifications. Secondly, poor and disorganized records management. Thirdly, inadequate space and shortage of resources, lack of electricity and water, inoperative post box and lack of communication infrastructure among many others.