Institutional Crisis: The Exclusion of Professionals in Kenya’s Land Governance
The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) has issued a stern press statement expressing "great disappointment" regarding the recent nomination of the Chairperson and members of the National Land Commission (NLC). Dated February 18, 2026, the release highlights a growing rift between the executive office and the professional bodies tasked with managing Kenya's land resources.
The Core Grievance: Expertise Ignored
The primary concern raised by the ISK is the apparent exclusion of core land professionals from the commission’s leadership. Despite these professionals possessing the technical and spatial expertise required by law, they appear to have been bypassed in favor of other appointees.
The ISK questions the transparency of the selection process, asking:
"We wonder whether there was a scoring system by the Selection Panel... [did] the landed professionals who applied for these positions score so low to warrant their exclusion?"
Why Professionalism Matters in Land Governance
The ISK emphasizes that the NLC was born out of a constitutional need to ensure:
•Policy Reform: Moving away from historical land injustices.
•Technical Competence: Managing complex issues like land surveying, valuation, and physical planning.
•Accountability: Ensuring that public land is managed transparently and for the benefit of all Kenyans.
By excluding experts in Land Law, Land Survey, and Land Economics, the ISK argues that the government is undermining the very policy-making capabilities the NLC was designed to provide.
The Legal Framework at Stake
The press release cites Section 8 of the National Land Commission Act (Cap. 281), which explicitly lists "land law, land survey, spatial planning or land economics" as the recognized and relevant fields of expertise for appointment.
The ISK points out that the functions of the Commission—including the registration of titles and the investigation of historical land injustices—are inherently technical. Without multidisciplinary expertise, the commission may struggle to fulfill its mandate as defined under Article 67 of the Constitution
A Call for Action
Led by President Eric Nyadimo, the ISK is urging the President to "relook at these appointments." Their message is clear: land governance must be guided by law, technical competence, and public interest.
The Institution, which represents over 7,200 professionals across eight disciplines (including Geospatial Information Management and Estate Management), remains committed to upholding professional standards. However, they warn that the current trajectory could lead to a "learning experience" that Kenya's land sector cannot afford.
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