University of Nairobi Co-Hosts 4th Regional Research Conference
The University of Nairobi reinforced its national leadership in land governance research and policy dialogue by co-hosting the 4th Regional Research Conference on Land and Natural Resources, held from May 20 to 22, 2025, at the Kenya School of Government. Convened under the theme “Taking Stock of the Land Reform Progress in Kenya,” the conference was organized by the National Land Commission in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, the National Research Fund, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other esteemed partners. This timely gathering brought together a broad range of stakeholders to assess the progress made since the enactment of the 2010 Constitution and to explore how legal, institutional, and policy reforms have transformed Kenya’s land sector.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jesang Hutchinson, Dr. Silas Muketha, Associate Dean at the Faculty of the Built Environment, delivered opening remarks that emphasized the University’s longstanding commitment to shaping equitable and sustainable land policy. He noted that the University of Nairobi does not view such gatherings as routine academic exercises, but as essential audits of national progress and calls to collective action. Dr. Muketha emphasized that the governance of land is central to Kenya’s development priorities ranging from food security and affordable housing to environmental protection and infrastructure growth and urged stakeholders to ask whether the reforms introduced over the last fifteen years have translated into secure tenure, fair access, and inclusive governance.
The Vice-Chancellor’s message highlighted the University’s rich legacy in land studies, through training, research, and outreach. Dr. Muketha cited notable contributions such as the development of the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) for Kenya, evaluations of the Ardhisasa digital land platform, the strengthening of Kenya’s geodetic framework, and research on land use in post-conflict peri-urban areas. He also pointed to the University’s involvement in paralegal training manuals for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), community legal literacy, and capacity building in land acquisition and resettlement processes all aimed at making land governance more accessible, transparent, and just.
As a co-host, the University’s contribution to the conference was both intellectual and practical. Drawing from years of multidisciplinary engagement in geospatial engineering, land law, valuation, and environmental planning, the University presented critical insights and innovations aimed at improving land administration in Kenya. These contributions were rooted in real-world experience and designed to inform policy and empower communities.
The conference featured a broad array of voices from government, the judiciary, civil society, and development partners. Justice Oscar Angote of the Environment and Land Court emphasized the judiciary’s pivotal role in land justice, highlighting key rulings that have reshaped the legal landscape and called for the urgent enactment of pending legislation under Article 68 of the Constitution. National Land Commission (NLC) Commissioner Esther Murugi spoke of the need to convert knowledge into action and to confront persistent challenges such as climate change, unsustainable land use, and gender inequality in land access. NLC CEO Kabale Tache Arero commended the strong collaboration among stakeholders and affirmed the importance of evidence-based policy and shared learning.
Throughout the three-day forum, stakeholders engaged deeply on themes including legal frameworks, historical land injustices, community land registration, natural resource management, and the use of digital technologies in land services. Cross-cutting discussions on inclusivity, decentralization, and dispute resolution mechanisms reflected the complexity of Kenya’s land reform journey and the urgent need for cohesive, responsive systems.
As Kenya continues to navigate evolving land-related challenges from urban expansion and climate change to the protection of communal and public lands the University of Nairobi has remained a key driver of practical solutions and informed dialogue. Its active role and leadership at the conference emphasized a broader commitment to inclusive, sustainable land governance. The event marked another meaningful step in the University’s commitment to shape knowledge, influence policy, and advance equity and justice in the country’s land reform journey.
