Surveyors Propose New Survey Systems to Address Land Conflicts
By Mwakwaya Raymond
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The Institute of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) wants to help the government in tackling the impending land boundaries challenges through modern survey strategies.
However, this will only happen if the government agrees to adopt its recommendations.
Speaking in Mombasa during the 9th ISK’s Africa regional conference, the surveyors expressed optimism of drastic change from general boundaries’ services to mathematically established boundaries would help stop the underlying issue of land disputes in the country.
According to ISK president Eric Nyadimo, general boundaries are done traditionally and hence are not mapped properly thus becoming vulnerable to conflicts related to land boundaries.
The official said that if the government adopted the mathematical boundaries system, the move would see land records synchronised under a single management system.
Thus, creating a seamless space within the surveying sector.
According to him the institution has completed the work of the 2021 taskforce formed by former cabinet secretary for lands Farida Karoney in an effort to tackle the leading challenges within the lands sector.
The institution has developed three documents: a survey and marketing bill 2021, land surveyors’ registration bill 2021, and a survey and mapping policy 2021.
“These documents are still within the Ministry of Lands and have not been advanced beyond that yet. There is need for the bills to be enacted and survey policy to be in place because through these documents, we will able to investigate the entire spectrum of survey and mapping and analyse all the problems facing the sector,” he said.
He explained that the bills also addressed the issues of professionalism within the survey sector that include the requirement for registration and licensing upon joining the industry.
To combat the issue of quacks, he said they were working closely with the regulatory boards within the land sector to stamp out the menace.
“We are encouraging members of the public to report to us incidents where they have procured services from somebody who has failed to deliver on what is required of them so that we can be able to investigate.”
The two-day conference themed – “Adapt, Thrive, Sustain: The Future of Land and Built Environment in the Face of Change” serves as a platform for regional and international leaders in the land and built environment to unite, share insights, and work collaboratively toward a vision.
“From cutting-edge technological advancements to visionary policies in land management and urban development, we will explore diverse strategies to foster resilience and innovation,” he said.
Mohammed Hussein, Mombasa County executive committee member for land, housing, and physical planning (CECM), said they were putting up various measures to settle the perennial issue of land disputes within the region.
He cited the “Ardhi Fund” as one of the mitigations projected to pass at the County Assembly.
“We are working closely with the Ministry of Lands and the National Lands Commission to ensure that disputes are minimal. We are setting up laws to enable us to settle the squatters and ensure that investors don’t endure losses upon buying land.”
