Wajir launches system to enhance land management and urban planning

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has described the Integrated Geographical Information System (GIS) as a tool that shall shape the future of our county in many ways.

He said the system is not just a technological innovation but a commitment to better governance, informed decisions, and the improved well-being of the people. 

The Governor was speaking on Wednesday in Wajir town during the inauguration of the Integrated Geographical Information System (GIS) centre.

Abdullahi while thanking Mercy Corps Kenya for their invaluable support to the County said GIS is not merely a collection of maps and data but a dynamic tool that will empower the county to make informed choices.

 “It provides us with valuable insights into the complex challenges that our county faces. From land management and urban planning to healthcare and disaster preparedness, GIS will be our guiding light,” he said.

He added: “It will enable us to see the bigger picture, identify patterns, and uncover opportunities for growth and improvement”.

Governor Abdullahi said the launch of the strategy could not have come at a more opportune time as it will help mainstream planning, decision making and monitoring across all departments.

"The key benefits of the system include Improved collaboration between different departments, stakeholders, and partners. It will also increase revenue collection through effective information management," he said.

Others are it provides a live spatial plan that the county will use as a basis for a decision support system. 

It also provides a platform to monitor and manage environmental indicators; rangeland management, hazards management, and monitoring environmental dynamics.

It also provides a field-to-office workflow where each department will update information based on the changes in the field. 

“The system we're inaugurating today serves as a prime illustration of how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can underpin our daily decision-making processes and drive the county's operations. In my role as a governor, it is imperative that I have access to information for the effective administration of the county,” he said.

He added.  

“I require precise and insightful data to inform my decision-making process. Given our constraints, including limited locally generated resources and funds from the exchequer, it becomes even more crucial that we are discerning in our resource allocation, directing them where they are needed most.” 

Abdullahi while emphasizing that the system relies heavily on data said that it is imperative that they continue receiving ongoing data updates from every department whenever field changes occur.

Failure to capture all relevant data he said could lead to the system generating inaccurate information and erroneous indicators, which could potentially lead us to make decisions based on incorrect data.

“Kindly allow me to express my most profound gratitude to our partners who stood with us all along the way to see the realization of our vision for our County within the very short period of our collaboration,” he said.

On his part, Samburu Deputy Governor Gabriel Lenengwesi said the system was worth being emulated by other counties.

He said that the tool will serve as a cornerstone for Governor Abdullahi’s administration's efforts to create a better future for his people.

“It is our responsibility to make the most of this opportunity and to use GIS for the betterment of our respective communities. Let us continue to work together, hand in hand, to build a prosperous and sustainable future for all,” he said.

On his part, Garissa deputy Governor Abdi Dagane said county governments are increasingly embracing Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to facilitate improved planning, management, and informed decision-making.

“GIS has evolved, it is no longer a preserve for only GIS professionals. There are emerging trends where GIS is being used in the whole organization from the management accessing summarized information in the form of executive dashboards to the mid-level managers interacting with information to make operational day to day decisions to the actual GIS professionals in the office and in the field managing and processing GIS data,” he said.