Surveyors urge President to review NLC nominees over exclusion of land experts

ISK President Eric Nyadimo during a past event/COURTESY

The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) has called on President William Ruto to reconsider the recently nominated members of the National Land Commission (NLC), citing the exclusion of core land professionals as a threat to effective land governance.

In a statement, ISK President Eric Nyadimo said the appointments, communicated through Presidential Action No. V of 2026 dated February 17, had overlooked professionals whose expertise is critical to the commission’s constitutional mandate.

“We urge the President to relook at these appointments,” Nyadimo said.

“The appointments need to give effect to both the letter and spirit of Section 8 of the National Land Commission Act, ensuring that the NLC reflects the multidisciplinary expertise necessary for the effective management of Kenya’s land resources.”

The surveyors’ body said it was “greatly disappointed” by what it termed the apparent exclusion of experts in land survey, land economics, spatial planning, and land law, fields expressly recognised under the National Land Commission Act as core qualifications for appointment.

ISK questioned the criteria used by the selection panel, asking whether qualified land professionals who applied were scored fairly.

“Does it mean that the landed professionals who applied for these positions scored so low to warrant their exclusion? Can these scores be made public?” Nyadimo posed.

While acknowledging the constitutional powers of the appointing authorities under Articles 67 and 250, the institution warned that the commission’s functions are highly technical and require specialised knowledge.

“The functions of the Commission are inherently technical and spatial in nature,” Nyadimo said. “They require deep expertise in land surveying, valuation, physical planning, environmental management, and land administration and governance.”

He cautioned that the proposed team may struggle to deliver on key responsibilities such as managing public land, advising on land acquisition and valuation, addressing historical injustices, and developing national land information systems.

“How will the team that has been proposed carry out these core functions when all these matters are alien to them?” he asked, adding that “this appointment should not be a learning experience for the Commissioners but an avenue for them to give back to Kenyans through proper adjudication of land matters.”

ISK argued that land governance remains one of the most sensitive areas of public administration, with decisions affecting property rights, public infrastructure, historical justice, revenue administration, and public confidence in state institutions.

“The exclusion of professionals from these disciplines raises legitimate concerns about technical capacity, institutional balance, and effective discharge of the Commission’s mandate,” Nyadimo said.

The institution noted that the creation of the NLC was informed by past reform efforts, including the Njonjo and Ndung’u commissions, as well as post-2007 reconciliation measures aimed at addressing historical land injustices and improving accountability.

Nyadimo said professional expertise in land matters is “not peripheral, it is foundational” to prudent public land management and sustainable development.

He added that ISK remains committed to working with the government and the commission, and supports transparent, merit-based public appointments.

“We reiterate that land governance must be guided by law, technical competence, and public interest,” he said.

In the press release, Ruto nominated Abdillahi Saggaf Alawy as the chairperson.

The six nominees for membership are Susan Khakasa Oyatsi, Daniel Murithi Muriungi, Kigen Vincent Cheruiyot, Julie Ouma Oseko, Mohamed Abdi Haji Mohamed, and Mary Yiane Seneta.

The names of the nominees have been submitted to parliament for approval.