Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, on Saturday, May 13, listed measures to resolve land ownership within existing informal settlements in blocks Y and Z along Kangundo Road.
Landowners were expected to provide relevant information regarding the 117 land parcels and attendant developments for review and authentication by a multi-disciplinary task force team assigned to the task.
According to the directive, they were urged to avail themselves at the County Chief Officer for Lands (City Hall) office between May 15 and May 29, during official working hours.
In a statement, Sakaja affirmed that his administration was keen on reaching a win-win outcome for all parties involved.
"The Nairobi City County Government is cognizant of the incessant disputes, litigation, conflicts, and contestations regarding land ownership within the existing informal settlements in Block Y and Block Z, situate along Kangundo Road, Nairobi which has remained unresolved for over 30 years to date," read part of the statement.
Notably, the dispute that had extended for over 30 years has led to several administrative Urban Planning, development, and service delivery challenges.
Some challenges faced were economic inefficiencies in land use and development, lack of land tenure security, loss of landed revenue, poor infrastructure and service facilities, haphazard urban development, public health, and safety issues, as well as general insecurity.
According to Sakaja, the exercise is intended to further pave the way to subsequent objective engagements with stakeholders on tenures in the subject area.
"The County Government is desirous of mediating resolution of the land disputes in the affected settlements in accordance with the Constitution of Kenya, applicable land laws and other statutes, to pave way for subsequent actions and processes to ameliorate the challenges mentioned," read the statement in parts.
During the campaign season, Sakaja emphasised that it was time to address land issues in Nairobi, especially in the capital's informal settlement.
Sakaja noted that there are about 200 informal settlements in Nairobi covering an area of approximately 3000 acres adding that about 1.5 million people must be addressed and the issue of absentee landlords addressed.
"Absentee landlordism is the main constraining factor to slum upgrading efforts in Nairobi," Sakaja added.
