Governor Iria comes to the rescue of the residents to resolve land disputes
By James Wakahiu
Murang’a County has partnered with the relevant national government and Mount Kenya University (MKU) to launch a programme aimed at easing land management and succession challenges facing poor residents of the region.
Launching the county’s land succession empowerment programme in Kandara Sub County on Thursday, Governor Mwangi wa Iria said the main objective of the project is to enable residents access property justice through assisting the less fortunate populations access courts for succession and registration of their properties.
At least 2,000 or more less fortunate members of the public are targeted to access courts for filing of their succession causes through churches, radio and TV advertisements. “This will guarantee them greater opportunities for investment and development,” he said.
Governor Wa Iria said his government will offer free legal services to the poor who cannot afford lawyers. “Some of our legal officers are not so busy this season. We also have access to the School of Law students and lecturers at MKU, as well as friendly lawyers who are ready to offer free legal advice pro bono,” he said.
Wa Iria decried hatred, violence and even murders going on in the county due to family land disputes. “Some elders cannot get out of their homes because they have received death threats. They even go to the shopping centres, attend church or visit local markets or bars. We will look for surveyors to assist us sort out these problems if the civil servants are not enough. The County Commissioner and the police should ensure these criminal acts of insecurity are eliminated,” he said.
The governor pleaded with administration officials to take their roles seriously on land succession so as to decongest the courts which are being forced to do double work due to laxity by the provincial administration. “The subject of land management especially land succession is marred with misunderstanding coupled with cultural myths and frauds that has resulted in untold sufferings in the county. We have come up with a programme known as Murang’a Alternative Dispute Resolution and Land Succession Programme (Malp) to help address the issue,” said the governor.
Wa Iria said land succession issues are usually marred by quacks and opportunists who prey on unsuspecting and uninformed members of society making the process long, time consuming and expensive. The court system is very good but due to the many pending cases it takes long to determine cases. In case of disputes, once the court makes a judgment it ends up dividing the family unit because in its nature; it is divisive and imposing.
According to research by MKU, the process of succession is not well understood by common man.
In addition, the court process is way out of reach to the common man due to expenses and long procedures. “This programme will contribute to security of tenure, sense of belonging) and economic empowerment (use of title as a collateral, development),” said the governor.
MKU vice chancellor, Prof Deogratius Jaganyi, said MKU is participating in the exercise through its School of Law as the legal knowledge partner in the Murang’a land succession programme.
“Our role as a university in this programme is in line with MKU’s current globally acknowledged status as the United Nations Academic Impact SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities Global Hub. As a University, we got this highly venerated award to serve as the global hub on matters that contribute to reducing or if possible, ending all inequalities within the human communities across the world; a role we are serving between June 2021 and May 2024 with a possibility of a renewal. We are happy to join in this programme and render our unreserved service to the people of Murang’a County,” he said.
The VC urged the people of Murang’a County to move forward with speed and take advantage of this act of magnanimity as offered and facilitated by the Governor of Murang’a County.
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