The County Government of Kirinyaga has unveiled a state-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS) lab to enhance service delivery, transparency, and efficiency within the Department of Lands.
Governor Anne Waiguru, who spearheaded the initiative, emphasised that the facility would be crucial in curbing fraud and land grabbing while streamlining land governance processes.
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GIS lab to enhance land management
The GIS lab, located at the County Headquarters in Kutus, has been established in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This collaboration aims to modernise land administration, promote sustainable development, and improve decision-making in land matters.
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County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Samuel Kanjobe, highlighted that the GIS system would strengthen land governance, enhance planning, and provide more accurate data for informed decision-making. He further noted that the digitization process would help resolve cases of double allocation, ownership disputes, and revenue collection inaccuracies.
“The lab is fully equipped with modern hardware, including computers, workstations, and a high-tech plotter, as well as the necessary software for digitisation. We are now moving to data collection across 135 market and trading centers to create a comprehensive land database, including ownership details, sizes, and land use,” Kanjobe said.
Improving access to land services
Implementing the GIS system will allow customers to access certain land services remotely through digital platforms, significantly reducing processing time and improving efficiency. The County Director of Physical Planning, Murage Muraguri, stated that the department is actively working on converting analogue land records into digital formats compatible with the GIS system.
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“Once the digitization process is complete, landowners and stakeholders will be able to retrieve and verify land information online, enhancing service accessibility and reducing bottlenecks in land transactions,” Muraguri explained.
GIS technology integrates hardware, software, and data to store, manage, analyse, and model geospatial information. This advanced system plays a crucial role in urban planning, disaster management, environmental conservation, and commercial activities, making it an essential tool for modern land governance.
The establishment of the GIS lab aligns with the County Government Act of 2012, which mandates counties to develop GIS-based database systems and spatial plans to improve service delivery and land management.
With this innovative system in place, Kirinyaga County is set to transform its land administration processes, ensuring greater efficiency, transparency, and sustainable development for its residents.