Long road

The message on the digitization and computerization of records and processes in Kenya’s Lands Ministry hit public space during Hon Amos Kimunya’s time. But the hype soon died down following his exit. Not much was heard of the initiative during Hon Kivutha Kibwana’s short stint in an acting capacity. But it assumed public visibility once again under Hon James Orengo, even at one time drawing the then Prime Minister Raila Odinga to the Ministry to witness some demonstration. However, there wasn’t much clarity about what the Ministry was doing to commit internal processes to technology.

Then Charity Ngilu came and upped the game, even at some point closing the Lands registry to sort out records in readiness for digitization and computerization of processes. Hers was a much publicized affair, drawing Presidential visits to the Ministry twice. But before the public could comprehend how her interventions would improve service delivery, she was gone. Dr Fred Matiang’i succeeded her in an acting capacity. Despite his evident interest, Matiang’i left before he could fully seize and drive matters computerization. The computerization initiative would again hit public space under Prof Jacob Kaimenyi. Kaimenyi, in collaboration with the national land commission, even launched some standards and guidelines to guide the establishment of a land information management system, seemingly setting the stage for the development of a broad national system of managing and sharing land records countrywide. Prof Kaimenyi continued his push for computerization to his last days. Unfortunately, the public wasn’t quite able to figure out where the Ministry was headed with the matter.

Farida Karoney has now assumed office. Like Ngilu, one of her visible interventions in the Ministry was to close operations in the registry once more. Many Kenyans have no clarity on what’s going on. This is why it is good that the Ministry has lately adopted a communication strategy of engaging users through print and broadcast notices. This needs to be scaled up and maintained.

The digitization of land records and the subsequent computerization of technical processes would be one of the best gifts that government can give Kenyans. It would expedite processes, reduce transaction costs and to a large extent eliminate physical visits to Lands offices. It’d make the process of collecting land revenue efficient, faster and less porous. The collection of land revenue, which constitutes a major proportion of Kenya’s total revenue, hasn’t been easy owing to challenges posed by manual systems. Computerization will also make it a lot easier to document the total number of records and transactions done by the Ministry whenever desirable, which is good for policy and budgetary planning. It’s therefore good for the Ministry staff, external users and the government. So is the development of a comprehensive national system beyond us? Not at all!

Road map for process

Indeed, in the last one decade, internal studies in the Ministry have documented all the existing digitization and automation initiatives. As a result, a road map for the design of a comprehensive land information management system was developed. Under the road map, all the existing computerization initiatives were to be integrated and the maps in the survey department linked with land ownership records in the registry. The various land administration processes were also to be computerized so that any future records would be digital. To tap from practical experience, benchmarking was to be done with jurisdictions that have enjoyed computerized land administration for long.

It’s now unfolding that the Ministry decided to first focus on sub-systems that support revenue collection. This is wise since it will save the public numerous trips to the Ministry and will reduce revenue loss. But this alone won’t ease the rigour of the wholesome collection, updating, maintenance and sharing of land records around the country. A much more comprehensive approach integrating the basic survey, planning, allocation, valuation and land registration sub-processes will be necessary. This is however an expensive long term and undertaking. But the system can be designed to deliver a number of quick wins along the way. This will however call for funding, political goodwill and the support of all stakeholders be they landowners, users, developers, land professionals or financial institutions.

Need consistent leadership and champions

But for success, it’ll be necessary to reduce the turnover of top leadership in the Ministry which has seen seven Ministers and six Principal Secretaries at its helm in about a decade. We will need committed champions. We will also need to train and sensitise internal staff and key users so that they identify with the project. We need to document and continuously communicate progress to Kenyans. But we mustn’t hesitate to identify and punish saboteurs, else the system will never be.