The State Department for Lands and Physical Planning today sought Parliament’s support in raising budgetary allocations to expedite the ongoing process of digitising land records.
The Department informed the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Lands that the digitisation exercise requires sufficient funding to sustain the momentum achieved thus far.
Lands Secretary Sarah Maina, who represented PS Generali Nixon Korir during the meeting with MPs in Mombasa, stated that the State Department for Lands proposed a budget of Ksh 447.7 million for the 2024/25 financial year to digitise the land registries of Mombasa Island, Mombasa Mainland, Baringo, and West Pokot.
However, following cuts under the Supplementary 1 Financial Year Budget, the allocation was reduced to just Ksh 130 million.
The Lands Secretary explained that the reduced budget would only cover the full digitisation of Mombasa Island and the scanning of records for Mombasa Mainland.
“We have managed to sort, organise, batch, and scan 14,902 land registration records, 10,839 land administration records, and 25,434 yellow, green, and white cards so far,” she noted. However, she stressed that the funds were insufficient to meet all planned activities.
Highlighting the scope of work, the Secretary added, “The Mombasa Land Registry consists of Mombasa Island and Mainland. The digitisation began in late May 2024, but progress has been hindered due to the limited budget.”
She was speaking at the Coast Regional Commissioner’s Boardroom during a plenary session with the MPs after they were taken through the digitisation process in Mombasa during a budget implementation oversight visit to the Registry.
Committee Chair Hon. Joash Nyamoko commended the State Department’s team for their efforts despite the challenges.
“The work done so far is commendable. But for the State Department to effectively carry out the digitisation process, additional funding is critical,” said Hon. Nyamoko.
Other Members of Parliament present included Garsen MP Hon. Ali Wario; Changamwe MP Hon. Omar Mwinyi; Kaloleni MP Hon. Katana Paul Kahindi; Kuria West MP Hon. Mathias Robi; Kilome MP Hon. Thaddeus Nzambia; Nominated MP Hon. Denar Joseph Hamisi; Nairobi MP Hon. Esther Passaris; and Kirinyaga MP Hon. Joseph Gitari.
Also present during the meeting were Director for Adjudication and Settlement Kennedy Njenga; Chief Land Registrar David Nyandoro; Director for Planning Cyrus Mbogo; Director for ICT Leonard Maritim; and Head of Public Communications Jibril Adan.
