By:Betty Luke
PHOTO/Betty Luke
Three pastoralist communities in Isiolo have received certificates of community land registration, marking a major milestone in their quest to secure legal ownership of their ancestral land.
The historic achievement ends nearly a decade of organizing, electing and gazetting Community Land Management Committees, conducting public participation and preparing the documentation required to begin the registration process.
The communities, Sericho, Garbatulla and Kinna-Kulamawe-Gotu Dedha are now set to move to the next phase of registration in their bid to own title deeds and secure their land as well as reap benefits from ongoing major government development projects in the area.
Sericho Dedha Community CLMC Chairperson Ibrahim Dalacha described the milestone as a hard-earned victory noting that land registration was the only sure way of securing their ancestral land that he termed as being at risk.
“We are grateful that we are now a step closer to securing our land. Although there is still a lot of work that needs to be done for our land to be legally recognized, we appreciate the achievement,” said Dalacha.
Garbatulla Dedha CLMC Chairperson Amina Kanow welcomed the development, saying the long wait had strengthened the communities’ resolve.
“The process has taken nine years. We now want to immediately begin the registration process, and I urge our people to remain united and follow the guidance of the CLMC,” she urged.
The secretary of the Kinna, Kulamawe and Gotu Dedha CLMC said the committees had ensured representation from all communities throughout the process.
He appealed to partners and government institutions to continue supporting the initiative, noting that the remaining stages would require even greater technical and financial support.
The move paves way for adjudication, surveys, topographical mapping and eventual issuance of title lands under the Community Land Act.
Despite the milestone, the elders expressed concern that the land was still under threat with part of it already given out to the national government for the establishment of a police training camp in what they termed as an illegal arrangement.
“Meru Governor has no authority whatsoever to issue out land that do not belong to his county. The matter is already in court and we hope justice will be served,” said Dalacha referring to Governor Mutuma M’ethingia who in April announced that his administration had allocated 60 acres grazing land for the establishment of Magado Police training camp.
Ardha Jabesa Foundation Programmes Manager Abdikadir Osman said the organization, alongside partners including Pastoralists Women for Health, MIDP and Paraan, supported public participation, CLMC elections and documentation.
He however noted that the entire registration process would require about Sh60 million which the communities were not in a position to raise.
His sentiments were echoed by Former Borana Council of Elders Chairperson Abdulahi Gonjobe who maintained the communities were not financially stable.
“You cannot expect a pastoralist to raise Sh20 million for registration when many cannot even educate their children. We are poor and demand government support to ensure our land is registered,” he said, calling for increased government investment to help the communities complete the process within the remaining one-year timeline.
Borana Council of Elders Chairperson Mohammed Konso said the certificates signify that pastoralist communities are finally moving towards formal ownership of their ancestral land.
“A certificate shows we are in the process of owning land,” he said, while urging the Isiolo County Government to allocate funds to support the costly registration exercise and the next phase of topographical mapping
