By Eddah Waithaka
In a major step for community land rights, the National Land Commission (NLC) and the grassroots network Community Land Action Now (CLAN!) signed a landmark cooperation agreement today.
The two parties formalized a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that pledges joint action to secure and protect community lands across Kenya.
The signing ceremony at the NLC headquarters marks a significant collaboration between a key government body and a coalition of indigenous peoples and local communities.
“This partnership builds a vital bridge,” said Mrs. Esterna Dokhe, the NLC’s Principal Land Rights Monitoring Officer. “It directly connects our constitutional mandate with the lived experience and needs of communities on the ground.”
The MOU defines several key areas for collaboration. The NLC and CLAN! will co-organize policy dialogues, support the implementation of the Land Tenure Facility project, and promote the monitoring of land rights.
They will also work together to resolve historical land injustices, monitor the transition of group ranches to community land, and develop a framework for monitoring land rights.
“Our communities have long advocated for a seat at the table,” said Mr. Robert Lechipan, Coordinator of CLAN!. “This agreement recognizes our role as essential partners in mapping, managing, and securing our ancestral lands. It empowers us to strengthen our traditional systems.”
Under the agreement, CLAN! will mobilize community resource persons and implement joint interventions with the NLC in target counties.
The NLC will convene technical working groups and provide government data and expertise. Both parties commit to jointly mobilizing resources for their shared goals.
The partnership emphasizes principles of mutual respect and accountability but clarifies that the MOU does not create a legally binding partnership or authorize financial transactions on behalf of the NLC.
The pact, which runs until April 2027 with an option for renewal, signals a collaborative approach to some of Kenya’s most persistent land challenges.
Officials from both sides say they will immediately begin identifying specific short and long-term projects to activate the agreement.
