The National Land Commission (NLC) has invited Kenyans to submit their views on historical land injustices through a public participation exercise aimed at informing ongoing investigations into long-standing land disputes across the country.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The commission said the exercise seeks to gather views from individuals, communities and other stakeholders to support its mandate of investigating historical land injustice claims and recommending appropriate remedies.

According to the NLC, members of the public with relevant information or claims are encouraged to participate in the exercise and share their experiences as part of the ongoing review process.

“Public participation is a key part of ensuring that investigations are informed by the experiences of those directly affected by historical land injustices,” the commission said.

📌 What You Need to Know

The exercise comes at a time when land disputes remain one of Kenya's most persistent legal and social challenges , with many communities seeking justice over ancestral land, alleged unlawful evictions, irregular land allocations and disputed ownership.

Over the years, courts have handled numerous cases involving contested land ownership, fraudulent title deeds and claims of illegal land transfers, highlighting the growing need for proper documentation and transparent processes in resolving disputes.

A 2023 report summarized by Kenyan media said the National Crime Research Centre found land-dispute problems in many counties, with Nairobi at 12%, Kakamega at 6.3%, and Nakuru at 5% among unresolved land disputes in the counties it surveyed.

The latest public participation exercise also follows a recent High Court ruling that declared there is no time limit for pursuing justice over historical land injustices.

In the landmark judgment, the court held that Parliament could not impose statutory deadlines that limit the National Land Commission's constitutional mandate to investigate historical land injustice claims, effectively allowing older claims to continue being considered.

However, the courts have also maintained that historical land claims and allegations of fraud must be supported by credible evidence.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke