The National Land Commission has pledged to accelerate the resolution of historical land injustices affecting communities in Makueni County, with officials assuring residents that their grievances will be addressed. 
By Fredrick Kioko,
The National Land Commission has pledged to accelerate the resolution of historical land injustices affecting communities in Makueni County, with officials assuring residents that their grievances will be addressed.
Speaking during a public participation forum in Wote on the draft Historical Land Injustices Regulations, 2026, NLC Chairperson Abdullahi Alawy said the commission had made significant progress in dealing with cases before it.
Alawy said only four cases remain pending for hearing before the commission, but noted that court interventions had continued to slow down the process. He explained that some parties dissatisfied with NLC decisions often seek legal redress, further delaying the resolution of disputes.
Residents used the forum to present a series of long-standing grievances, some of which they said date back to the years following Kenya’s independence.
The commission identified several disputes for urgent attention, including the Kinyoo land controversy involving the Ukambani Agricultural Institute (UKAI) and South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU), the Katende Forest dispute involving the Kenya Forest Service, and land claims involving residents of Chyulu.
Other cases include the alleged displacement of residents from Mikululo, involving the Kenya Wildlife Service, as well as compensation claims arising from the Mulima and Manooni dam projects.
Alawy said the commission, working alongside other relevant government agencies, was committed to safeguarding land ownership rights and finding lasting solutions to disputes that have affected communities for decades.
The Makueni forum came shortly after residents of Emali staged peaceful demonstrations over the Kinyoo land dispute. The protesters called on the government to intervene and address claims that powerful individuals had displaced residents from the contested land.
The NLC has urged affected communities to remain patient as it works through the outstanding cases, while promising to fast-track matters that require urgent intervention.
