Why 7,000 land disputes remain stuck at NLC

National Land Commission Vice Chairperson Dr Julie Oseko speaks during a public participation forum on historical land injustices and review of grants at the ACK St Stephens Cathedral in Kisumu on October 12, 2026.

The National Land Commission (NLC) faces a backlog of 7,000 cases challenging how public land changed hands, and the commission says it needs new procedural rules before hearings can begin or continue.

The commission’s vice chairperson, Dr Julie Oseko, says most matters concern requests to review instances where public land became private. Known as “review of grants and dispositions of public land”, this category of cases seeks to establish whether the transfers were lawful.

With the 2027 General Election approaching, residents fear the long-running dispute could once again become a source of tension.

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The parcels of land have been grabbed by individuals and firms including foreign contractors undertaking capital projects in Kenya.

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Some have fallen into depression, while others turn to manual jobs to survive.