Mombasa, November 22, 2024
The State Department for Lands and Physical Planning today asked for Parliament’s support in raising budgetary allocations to speed up the ongoing process of digitization of land records.
The Department informed the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Lands that the digitization exercise requires sufficient funding so that the momentum achieved can be sustained.
Lands Secretary Sarah Maina, who represented PS Generali Nixon Korir during the meeting with the MPs in Mombasa, said the State Department for Lands proposed a budget of Ksh 447.7 million for the 2024/25 financial year to digitize the Mombasa Island, Mombasa Mainland, Baringo, and West Pokot land registries.
However, following cuts under the Supplementary 1 Financial Year Budget, the allocation was slashed to just Ksh130 million.
The Lands Secretary explained that the reduced budget would only cover the full digitization of Mombasa Island and the scanning of records for Mombasa Mainland.
“We have managed to sort, organize, batch, and scan 14,902 land registration records, 10,839 land administration records, and 25,434 yellow, green, and white cards so far,” she noted. However, she stressed that the funds were insufficient to meet all planned activities.
Highlighting the scope of work, the Secretary added, “The Mombasa Land Registry consists of Mombasa Island and Mainland. The digitization began in late May 2024, but progress has been hindered due to the limited budget.”
She was speaking at the Coast Regional Commissioner’s Board room during a plenary session with the MPs after they were taken through the digitization process in Mombasa during a budget implementation oversight visit to the Registry.
Committee Chair Hon. Joash Nyamoko commended the State Department’s team for their efforts despite the challenges.
“The work done so far is commendable. But for the State Department to effectively carry out the digitization process, additional funding is critical,” said Hon Nyamoko.
Other Members of Parliament present were Garsen MP Hon. Ali Wario; Changamwe MP, Hon. Omar Mwinyi; Kaloleni MP Hon. Katana Paul Kahindi, Kuria West MP, Hon. Mathias Robi, Kilome MP, Hon. Thaddeus Nzambia, Nominated MP Hon. Denar Joseph Hamisi, Nairobi MP Hon. Esther Passaris and Kirinyaga Central MP Hon. Joseph Gitari.
Also present during the meeting was Director for Adjudication and settlement Kennedy Njenga, Chief Land Registrar David Nyandoro, Director for Planning Cyrus Mbogo, Director for ICT Leonard Maritim and the Head of Public Communications Jibril Adan.
Ends…