NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Assembly has passed an amendment making it mandatory for all transactions involving public land to be published in the Kenya Gazette before registration.
The move follows the House’s adoption of a Senate amendment to the Land (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 40 of 2022), sponsored by Ruiru MP Simon King’ara.
The bill now awaits President William Ruto’s assent.
Under Clause 5 of the amendment, the land registrar must “publish a notice in the Gazette specifying the particulars of the registration” for any public land transaction before completing the process.
Lawmakers say the measure will strengthen accountability, curb fraud, and create a permanent public record of land dealings — a critical step in tackling Kenya’s history of irregular public land allocations.
“The amendment reduces the risk of fraudulent transactions, promotes informed public participation, and provides a permanent, accessible record of land registrations,” the National Assembly said in a statement.
Recent cases have underscored the need for stricter oversight.
On August 1, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) recovered Sh104 million worth of public land in Mombasa originally owned by the Kenya Airports Authority but illegally acquired by a former Coast Province Physical Planner.
In a separate case, land belonging to Kenya Railways was reclaimed years after its unlawful allocation to private individuals.
Lawmakers say mandatory gazettement will make it harder for public land to be quietly transferred, help resolve disputes, and ensure Kenyans remain informed about government land transactions.
