Push to hand counties control of multinational land grows

Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet at a function in Kericho county

Senate Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot has called for a major shift in land governance, urging that multinational land currently managed by the national government be transferred to county governments to ensure stronger local control and fair benefit sharing.

He said counties and the people must have a greater say in the management of all land-related matters in the country.

Cheruiyot said counties such as Nandi, Bomet and Kericho should be granted full authority over such land, including the mandate to issue title deeds, regulate leasing arrangements and determine conditions for any development activities.

He spoke during an empowerment event at Brooke in Kericho county, where he argued that the shift would deepen devolution by placing key economic resources directly in the hands of local leadership and communities.

Cheruiyot said under the current arrangement, decisions on multinational land are made centrally, often without meaningful participation of host communities. He said such land in the listed counties is largely used for tea growing.

“I will push for the national government to give title deeds to counties, which have multinational tea land,” he said.

Cheruiyot said this has created long-standing grievances in areas where large-scale investments and institutions operate on land that communities feel they have little influence over.

The Senate Majority leader further said that devolving control would ensure investors and other land users engage directly with communities before undertaking any activity.

He said this approach would promote transparency, reduce mistrust and ensure development projects align with local priorities and needs.

Cheruiyot also took issue with the way land matters are handled during election periods, saying they are frequently used as political campaign tools.

He argued that despite repeated promises during campaigns, little substantive change is delivered after elections, leaving communities disappointed and marginalised.

“The propaganda being used in every election cycle about tea estates should come to an end,” he said.

The Kericho senator emphasised that granting counties authority over multinational land would help break this cycle of political manipulation while ensuring local populations benefit more directly from resources within their regions.

He said he has already raised the matter with President William Ruto and will continue pushing for policy reform that would formally place such land under county jurisdiction.

If implemented, the proposal would mark a significant restructuring of land governance in Kenya, potentially expanding the role of county governments while reducing the central government’s direct control over land within devolved units.