By Khalifa Hemed
Published May 26, 2021
Kajiado County Government has suspended land transactions for 90 days to enable it come up with a better framework on sustainable land use and management.
Kajiado, whose proximity to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, has made it a popular investment destination in land and real estate, is said to be suffering from ‘irreparable spatial disorder occasioned by non-coordinated land subdivisions and speculative sales’, ‘amenities that support and complement urban development within residential neighborhoods, adequate infrastructure services that enhance quality of life, recreational space and requisite waste management systems are lacking’ and ‘County Government projects within urban areas have suffered undue delays and to some extent abandonment due to lack of space or land reservations for amenities,’ according to a public announcement from the County Government issued on May 10, 2021.
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Invoking the Constitution of Kenya 2010, The Physical and Land use Planning Act 2019, County Government Act 2012, Urban Areas and Cities Act 2011, and Kajiado County Land Policy, the County Government of Kajiado has:
- suspended subdivision of land below one (1) acre within the county (with the exception of Kajiado North where Ngong Hills and Ongata Rongai fall)
- ordered any one who has submitted any applications to the county for evaluation and approval falling in the category stated in 1 to withdraw them
- banned any advertisement for sale of plots (1/8, ¼, ½, and 1 acres) and advised any one with succession and court related issues to seek advice from the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, Urban Development & Municipalities for administration
- directed any one intending to advertise land sales to secure approval and authorization from the CECM for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, Urban Development & Municipalities prior to placement of notices on print or electronic media
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- directed persons and firms wishing to undertake comprehensive residential, industrial educational or any urban use to adhere to approved zoning plans, subdivision guidelines and existing advisory plans. Areas designated for Agriculture, livestock herding units and wildlife buffer zones/transitioning corridors remain protected and persons who had purchased or intent to purchase such land for speculative subdivisions are hereby advised to desist. Change of user, extension and conversions in such zones shall not be administered
- barred land brokers, speculators and land buying companies that spearhead and shape growth trends through informally subdividing land and grant of non-conventional (share certificates) land ownership documents from development (construction). The county shall not honour or grant approvals to applications whose supportive ownership documents are certificates or allotments issued by land buying companies
- ordered land buying companies organising weekend field trips for prospective buyers on unapproved scheme plans to obtain clearance from Sub county administrators. Offices erected on any site whose applications have not been approved by the county shall be demolished. Failure to comply shall amounts to promoting illegal development liable to prosecution
- directed licensed surveyors to adhere to professional ethics. Survey of Land must be preceded by approvals granted by the county. Erecting of beacons must be supported by approved scheme plans duly approved by the CECM in charge of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, Urban Development & Municipalities, and
- banned land transactions in Elangata Wuas , Loodariak , Kuku A and Kuku B registration sections for a period of three months.
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The notice to the public, signed by Hamilton ole Parseina, the CECM in charge of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, Urban Development & Municipalities, says the restriction is to allow the Kajiado County Government ‘to come up with a better framework to sort out the increased land conflicts’ and that it shall ‘take legal action against persons contravening the noble intents of the county to foster orderly development’.
Kajiado County, to the south of Nairobi City County and Kiambu County to the North and Machakos County to the East of the national administrative area, form the Greater Nairobi or Nairobi Metropolitan Area.