NAIROBI, Kenya – Politicians who lost in the last general election and former governors are now eligible to apply for top positions in the National Land Commission (NLC) after a High Court order suspended a law that barred them.
The Selection Panel chaired by National Gender and Equality Commission boss Rehema Jaldesa on Monday issued an addendum to its earlier advertisement, confirming that the disqualification criteria in section 8(3)(b) of the NLC Act will not apply.
The original notice, published on August 27, had excluded anyone who, within the past five years, had held or contested for the positions of Member of Parliament (MP), Member of County Assembly (MCA), or Governor.
But on September 2, Justice Chacha Mwita of the High Court issued conservatory orders suspending the application of that clause until September 22, when the matter will be heard further.
“That a conservatory order is hereby issued restricting the Selection Panel from applying section 8(3) of the NLC Act to disqualify any person… from applying for the position until September 22, 2025,” Justice Mwita ruled.
Jaldesa confirmed compliance with the ruling, saying: “We received a court order that had suspended that particular disqualification criteria, and we have since complied with the decision of the court.”
Commission exits in November
The second NLC, chaired by Gershom Otachi, will exit office on November 15, 2025, after serving a six-year non-renewable term.
Other commissioners whose tenure lapses are James Tuitoek, Getrude Nguku, Reginald Okumu, Samwel Kambi, Hubbie Al-Haji, and Alister Mutugi.
Uncertainty remains over the terms of former Minister Esther Murugi and former Isiolo Woman Representative Tiya Galgalo, who were sworn in a year later on December 20, 2020. Their terms were initially set to end in December 2026.
The NLC, established under the 2010 Constitution, manages public land on behalf of the national and county governments.
It has been at the centre of high-stakes disputes involving land ownership, compensation, and historical injustices.
Selection Panel composition
The panel overseeing the recruitment includes Jaldesa as chairperson, Jasper Mbiuki (Office of the President), Peris Mang’ira (Ministry of Lands), NGO representatives Dr. Electine Nasambu and Anne Mwangangi, Bibiana Ribuku Omalla (Private Sector), and Nichola Letting (Professional Societies of East Africa).
Applications for the positions of chair and commissioners are now open to a wider pool of candidates, including former politicians, pending the outcome of the September 22 court hearing.
