Court halts reforms at NLC, Land ministry
National Land Commission chairman Muhammad Swazuri addresses residents at Manda Trading Centre on April 8, 2016. The High Court directive issued on June 16 bars either the ministry or the NLC from implementing an “internal memo” from the Land minister. PHOTO | KALUME KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- There has been speculation that the two individuals were being used by senior ministry officials resisting changes for fear of being transferred to the NLC and the apparent dismantling of land cartels.
Reforms at the Land ministry and the National Land Commission (NLC) have stalled following a court order that has blocked changes meant to streamline the operations of the two institutions and end wrangling.
The High Court directive issued on June 16 bars either the ministry or the NLC from implementing an “internal memo” from the Land minister to make changes that would have seen functions such as the issuing of land leases transferred to the commission.
The changes that would have made the ministry transfer some of the functions being performed by its officers to the commission were as a result of a report by a task force chaired by Land Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and NLC chairman Muhammad Swazuri to implement a Supreme Court advisory on the roles to be played by each of these institutions.
The order was issued following an application by Jackson Mutwiri and John Njoroge.
There has been speculation that the two men were being used by senior ministry officials resisting changes for fear of being transferred to the NLC and the apparent dismantling of land cartels.
The High Court's order bars the two institutions from implementing the changes before the passage of the Land Laws (Amendment) Bill.
