The Turkana government is conducting surveys and demarcating community land to streamline registration and management.
The demarcation has commenced in areas including Lorengipi, Nakurion and Lokiriama where community land registration is in process.
The exercise is being undertaken jointly by the county department for lands and physical planning, the National Land Commission (NLC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
It’s also supported by several partners including the Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiative (DLCI) and ACTED.
Lands chief officer Leah Losuru who is leading the team said the demarcation and survey exercise will help secure community land rights and protect the interests of the communities in the region.
“This process is very key as we aim to help our communities to better manage the land resources in our county”, she said.
The exercise follows the successful completion of community sensitisation conducted last week to prepare residents for the technical field activities.
“We have carried out necessary sensitisation to ensure the communities understand the demarcation and surveying process, their role in it and the importance of participating throughout the exercise,” Losoru said.
During the sensitisation forums, communities were engaged on the objectives of the exercise and given an opportunity to raise concerns, seek clarification and share their views on the process.
“We have to ensure that our communities are fully involved in the entire process because the land survey and demarcation directly involves and affects them,” Losoru said.
The chief officer said the process will strengthen cross-border peace initiatives by addressing land-related disputes between communities in Turkana and neighbouring West Pokot county.
It will also pave the way for the eventual issuance of community land titles.
Those involved are undertaking field activities, with continued community participation expected throughout the exercise.
Losoru said the critical exercise marks a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen land governance, secure community land tenure and promote peaceful coexistence.
Elsewhere, in an effort that began earlier this year, thousands of residents of informal settlement will benefit from title deeds and upgraded services under the Sh21 billion Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP 2).
The national government has recognised the urgent need to improve living conditions in informal settlements, where residents lack adequate housing, basic services and secure land tenure.
Efforts are now focused on upgrading infrastructure and improving housing quality to transform these areas into safer, healthier, and more dignified places to live.
A renewed push by the national government through the state department of housing and urban development is to issue title deeds and upgrade essential infrastructure. The process is being implemented through the 38 participating county governments.
The initiative seeks not only to formalise land ownership but also to transform informal settlements through the provision of key amenities such as water, drainage, roads, electricity, and enhanced security.
In Embu county, the government has accelerated the issuance of both block and individual title deeds to residents in informal settlement schemes. Authorities are also mapping settlements to identify critical infrastructure gaps and prioritise development interventions.
Embu county deputy director of physical planning Nahashon Mucheru, in April, said the programme is aimed at restoring dignity to residents while aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 11 and Kenya Vision 2030, which advocate for inclusive, safe, and sustainable cities.
“Residents in informal settlements will benefit from improved infrastructure, including proper drainage, water supply, electricity, and enhanced security,” Mucheru during a visit to the Majimbo informal settlement in Manyatta subcounty, which is home to over 300 people.
