The Land Development and Governance Institute released its 7th score Card (see www.ldgi.co.ke/www.ldgi.org) on Tuesday 17th July 2012. The score card had been focused on the new land laws. Results indicate that citizen awareness on the new land laws is low.

NEED FOR WIDER CIVIC EDUCATION ON NEW LAND LAWS

• The Land Development and Governance Institute released its 7th score Card (see www.ldgi.co.ke/www.ldgi.org) on Tuesday 17th July 2012. The score card had been focused on the new land laws. Results indicate that citizen awareness on the new land laws is low. And of those who were aware about the new laws, awareness of the key provisions in the laws was poor. Corruption in land offices was also still noted to be high. The report recommends that to enhance awareness of the new laws,some of the below strategies could be put in place:-

1. Escalate awareness through the use of media, in particular vernacular fm radio stations
   
2. Reach out to the youth by using ICT.....for instance use of social media, email or sms messaging services
3. Prepare and disseminate widely simplified booklets with highlights of the key provisions in the new land laws

In order to mitigate incidents of corruption, the report recommeds:-

1. That the government carries out appropriate reforms within the lands offices
2. That the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission closely monitors incidents of alleged corruption and carries out conclusive investigations
3. That the current efforts to put in place the national land commission should be fast tracked.

LAND WATCH NOTES : KEY OPPORTUNITIES SPELT BY THE LAWS

The complementary  "Land Watch Note" released along with the score card report highlights some of the key opportunities spelt by each of the new land laws, the Environment and Land Court Act 2011, the National Land Commission Act 2012, the Land Act 2012 and the Land Registration Act 2012.

Among other highlights, citizens are assured that their titles issued under the old repealed laws are recognised under the new Land Registration Act 2012.

The results should inform Civil Society Organizations and Development Partners focused on the land sector to do more to reach out widely within the country. The government, through the Ministry of Lands and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (K-NICE programme) could also complement such efforts thrrough focused civic education programmes through mass public events, religious institutions, chiefs and assistant chiefs.