Vision 2030 Delivery Board Chairman Dr Emmanuel Kombe Nzai addresses delegates during the 5th Regional Research Conference at Kenya School of Government/HANDOUTLeaders, researchers, and public sector decision-makers converged at the Kenya School of Government for the 5th Regional Research Conference on Land and Natural Resources.
Convened under the theme "Strengthening Land Governance for Sustainable National Economic Development," the high-level summit positioned data-driven policy, secure tenure, and inter-agency synergy as the bedrock of Kenya’s socio-economic growth.
Serving as the Chief Guest, Dr Emmanuel Kombe Nzai, Chairman of the Vision 2030 Delivery Board, delivered a keynote address that framed empirical research as an essential driver of public governance.
He cautioned that policy decisions crafted without research-backed data lead to misallocated resources and public service inefficiencies.
Nzai challenged scholars to move beyond journal publications and produce actionable, community-centered solutions that directly inform public strategy.
Furthermore, he urged regional entities to harmonize policy frameworks, adopt digital transformation, and strengthen public-private partnerships to achieve long-term growth.
The conference also featured remarks from the Ministry of Education, where the Principal Secretary for Basic Education John Lekakeny Ololtuaa, was represented by Madam Lilian Karanja, Deputy Director of Library Services.
The statement raised an urgent call to protect public learning spaces and highlighted a startling 2025 survey revealing that only 27 per cent of Kenya’s public primary and secondary schools hold valid title deeds. The absence of documentation exposes school land to encroachment, boundary disputes, and grabbing, underscoring the need for expedited titling and reservation certificates to safeguard education infrastructure under the Competency-Based Education model.
KURA Senior Corporate Communications Officer Stephen Njogu engages visitors at the authority’s exhibition booth during the 5th Regional Research Conference at Kenya School of Government/HANDOUTThe event highlighted strong cross-sector collaboration. Speaking on behalf of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Senior Corporate Communications Officer Stephen Njogu underscored KURA’s strategic alliance with the National Land Commission (NLC).
Njogu emphasised that urban road delivery depends heavily on effective land planning, early dispute resolution, and protecting road reserves.
"As Kenya's urban areas grow, we must safeguard land corridors for future roads, pedestrian walkways, cycling facilities, and public transport infrastructure," Njogu affirmed, noting that early coordination minimizes costly project delays.
National Land Commission Chairperson Dr Abdillahi Saggaf Alawy reaffirmed NLC’s strategic role, citing compulsory land acquisition for over 100 key infrastructure projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway, Lokichar Oil, and the Thwake and Mwache Multipurpose Dams.
Joined by NLC CEO Kabale Tache Arero and Commissioner Esther Murugi, conference organizers celebrated record abstract submissions from across Africa.
