Amendments to land laws will safeguard public assets, says PS Korir

Land PS PS Generali Nixon Korir

The Ministry of Lands has clarified that recent amendments to land laws are intended to protect public land from encroachment and misuse, not to introduce new levies or alter existing ownership regimes.

The amendments to Land Act, 2012 were among eight bills signed into law by President William Ruto last Wednesday. The laws take effect on November 4, 2025.

Their passage has drawn debate online, with some commentators questioning the timing of the signing, which coincided with the country’s mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Lands PS Nixon Korir, however, maintains that the changes are purely administrative and designed to tighten the protection of public land and improve transparency in land management.

He said the changes require the Chief Land Registrar to register all public land allocated to public bodies or institutions by the National Land Commission, as well as any land set aside by developers for public purposes in approved development plans.

“The amendments further require the registration of public land and land earmarked for public amenities to be published in the Kenya Gazette to ensure transparency and accountability,” Korir said.

“This will prevent any grabbing of such land or its later use for private purposes.”

Korir dismissed information circulating on social media alleging a conversion of land tenure from freehold to leasehold or the introduction of new land levies, terming it misleading and inaccurate.

Under the amended law, a public body or institution may now apply to the Registrar for the registration of public land allocated by the NLC. Similarly, land set aside by private developers or land-buying companies for public amenities, such as schools, hospitals or playgrounds, must also be registered.

Upon registration, the Land Registrar will publish a notice in the Kenya Gazette detailing the particulars of the registration and issue a certificate of title.

In the case of an incorporated public entity, the certificate will be issued in the name of the entity. For unincorporated entities, it will be issued to the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury as trustee, while for county governments, the certificate will be issued in the name of the respective county government.