Institution of Surveyors of Kenya Seeks more Funds for Land Surveying Reforms

By Mbungu Harrison

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) is pushing the government for a bigger budget to crack down on quacks and unaccredited training schools flooding the land surveying sector.

Speaking at the Kenya Geospatial and Real Estate Conference in Mombasa, ISK president Eric Nyadimo said poor funding has crippled the body’s ability to enforce reforms.

“We need serious regulation of the profession. We have a lot of quacks as surveyors who have infiltrated the profession. We need some serious action to regulate that, and it requires budgets,” Nyadimo said.

He warned that “mushrooming polytechnics” are purporting to train land surveyors without meeting standards.

“We have a lot of mushrooming polytechnics purporting to train land surveyors and they don’t meet the threshold. We need assistance from the government to control this,” he said asking the Office of the President to intervene.

The president said rapid urbanisation, infrastructure growth and new technology demand urgent legal and policy reforms.

“These opportunities are accompanied by their own challenges. Therefore, we need to engage and review key frameworks to align them to market demands,” he said.

National Land Commission Commissioner Vincent Kigen pledged to work with ISK to advance land reforms.

“We remain committed to work with ISK to advance reforms on land issues for the benefit of all Kenyans,” Kigen said.

The sector generates millions in stamp duty countrywide, but Nyadimo said very little of it was ploughed back into regulation and supervision.

ISK deputy president Nelly Mbugua said the conference aims to close the gap between policy formulation and implementation.

She raised concern over rising cases of land fraud involving rogue surveyors.

Public Works principal secretary Joel Arumonyang, in a speech read on his behalf, urged stakeholders to uphold professionalism.

“You are custodians of the future. Your expertise and integrity will determine the future of the sector,” he said.

Head of Public Service, represented by his deputy Amos Gathecha challenged surveyors to embrace technology and raise their own funds after Treasury cut funding to some institutions.

“There are about 12 pieces of legislation and amendments in parliament. I think the president will have to do lobbying to ensure they are passed,” Gathecha said.