FAO partners with N Rift counties to address land management

FAO Programme Manager Husna Mbarak speaking at a meeting for counties in Eldoret focusing on land management 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is offering technical and capacity building support for counties in North Rift to deal with land management challenges.

 FAO convened a crucial land governance progress review meeting at the Uasin Gishu county headquarters which brought together land executives and land officers in the region.

 The meeting chaired by FAO programme manager Husna Mbarak focused on evaluating ongoing interventions aimed at strengthening land administration systems.

 Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia and Turkana counties have been beneficiaries of FAO-backed initiatives that target critical aspects of cluster three digital land governance programme.

 The issues include digitisation of land records, establishment of land registries, development of GIS laboratories, capacity building for staff and support for county-level land policy frameworks.

 “Counties have made commendable progress in institutional capacity, but we must prioritise registry digitisation through Ardhi Sasa and address the complexity of community land registration,” Husna said.

 She noted that community land remains one of the most pressing concerns in Kenya’s land governance landscape.

 “FAO encourages counties to intensify advocacy and resource mobilisation to fast-track these efforts,” she said.

 Mbarak said FAO’s remains committed to providing technical support to counties in navigating the legal and operational hurdles around community land adjudication, titling and conflict resolution.

 Speaking during the session, Uasin Gishu Lands executive Edward Sawe praised the impact of FAO’s programmes on institutional reform and service delivery.

 “Through FAO’s support, we have enhanced our ability to serve the public more efficiently — from modern GIS tools to trained personnel. What we need now is deeper integration of digital platforms and stronger focus on community land management,” Sawe said.

 Chief Officer for Lands Julius Koech said urban planning should not be left behind in the discussions.

He emphasised the importance of aligning land governance with urban development, particularly the implementation of the Integrated Development and Expansion Plan (IDEP) for Eldoret City.

 “The IDEP is a visionary, long-term strategy for Eldoret’s future. We urge stakeholders, including FAO and national agencies, to support its implementation through funding and technical input,” Koech said.

 Among the key recommendations from the meeting was the need for increased county-level lobbying for funding, especially for community land mapping, digital transformation under Ardhi Sasa, and urban land policy development.

 The gathering also provided a platform for counties to share best practices and challenges in implementing land governance reforms.

 Participants stressed the importance of inter-county collaboration, public awareness and inclusive policy-making — especially when dealing with community land issues that involve pastoralist and indigenous groups.

 FAO support the government and counties through its Land Governance Programme which is a flagship initiative that seeks to strengthen and secure land tenure, improve land use planning and ensure equitable access to land for all.

 Also present were executives from the Council of Governors led by Evans Kipruto, land executives Esther Chelimo (West Pokot), Thomas Maiyo (Elgeyo Marakwet),  Aletea Faith (Turkana) and Phanice Khatundi (Trans Nzoia).