From 12th to 13th June 2024, KELIN, in collaboration with the National Land Commission (NLC) and other partners, hosted the 3rd Regional Research Conference with the theme “Data, Innovation, and Technology for Land Governance” in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference brought together government actors, civil society, academia, the private sector, and development partners to deliberate on strategies for generating, intensifying, harmonizing, and utilizing accurate and reliable data for better land governance.
Inaugurated by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Hon.Eliud Owalo remarked that the conference was well-timed and aligned with the priority of digitalizing systems and processes across all Kenyan ministries. The CS announced plans under his Ministry to roll out of 100,000km internet fiber across the country stating, “Change is inevitable; let us embrace technological advancements as we direct our continued efforts towards investing in data, innovation, and technology for better land governance”. The CS further highlighted that his Ministry is ready to support a massive sensitization user program to enhance the uptake of digital technologies and propel initiatives by the National Land Commission (NLC) and, by extension, the Ministry of Land aimed to improve management of land resources and dispute resolution, such as Natural Resource Atlas, Ardhisasa, Geoportal on public land and HakiArdhiApp.
Kabale Tache, CEO of NLC further emphasized the need to embracing change for better land governance. “Out with the old, in with the new!” she said, while highlighting the numerous initiatives, including the investment in research and innovation, to modernize land governance to ensure it is user friendly, economic friendly and more sustainable as well as the urgent need for adaptive strategies in a rapidly changing world. KELIN’s Deputy Executive Director, Hortense Minishi, advocated for actors to embrace change by bringing attention to the challenge of gender inequality in land governance, for example widow disinheritance and discrimination in women during succession processes from owning land and property mainly due to harmful social norms, poverty, lack of awareness on rights and lost or destroyed physical land records. She noted that innovation is a game changer and the upscaling of digital technologies in land governance can be an enabler as well as an equalizer for all to access pertinent information and services.
Calling for the strengthening of data security, accessibility and privacy considerations, Commissioner (Hon.) Kambi Kazungu in his closing remarks shared the concerns raised by participants during the conference, including ethical concerns in the collection and use of data. He called upon stakeholders to invest in capacity building initiatives, adopt new technologies such as Blockchain Technologies and AI as well as research and innovation in land administration and management.
KELIN’s has over the years collaborated with the NLC and invested in efforts on land and natural resource research, public dialogues to sensitize communities on rights, and training of alternative justice mechanisms practitioners. We commit to harnessing the power of technology in addressing the complex challenges facing land governance and dismantling the systemic barriers that hinder access to land information and services, especially for vulnerable and marginalized communities.
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For more information, please contact.
Trevor Mwangi
Program Associate
Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
Kuwinda Lane, Karen C, off Langáta Road
Email: trevormwangi@kelinkenya.org
