February 25, 2025, (Machakos, Kenya): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through its Land Governance Unit, in collaboration with the host country, Kenya’s National Land Commission (NLC), and with support from the Embassy of Sweden, is hosting an inception workshop to develop a Gender-Responsive and Conflict-Sensitive Investigative and Inquiry Guideline for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Kenya.
The hackathon-style workshop brings together technical personnel from the National Land Commission (NLC), the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning under the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, as well as representatives from the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action under the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage. Additionally, an IGAD-appointed consultant is supporting the process.
Objectives of the Workshop
During the workshop, participants will review the consultant’s inception report, refine data collection tools—including interview schedules and focus group discussion guides—and finalise logistics for field data collection in the pilot counties of West Pokot and Turkana.
The expected outcomes include a comprehensive stakeholder map, finalised data collection tools, and a robust inception report that will guide the framework’s development.
Key Remarks
Speaking on her behalf of Dr Fatuma Adan, IGAD Head of Mission to Kenya, Ms. Beth Nyadimo emphasized on the fundamental role of land in livelihoods, food security, culture and identity. She highlighted that the new guideline is intended not only for communities but also for key institutions and non-state actors involved in land conflict resolution. These include the National Land Commission, community leaders, and civil society organisations working with local communities to implement ADR mechanisms.
Gertrude Nduku Nguku, Vice Chairperson of the National Land Commission (NLC), reiterated the Commission’s constitutional mandate to uphold land policy principles outlined in Article 61 of the Kenya Constitution. She emphasised the importance of community-led dispute resolution, aligning with legal frameworks such as the Community Land Act, the Climate Change Amendment Act, and the 2024 Climate Change (Carbon Market) Regulations.
IGAD’s Support and Next Steps
With IGAD’s support, the National Land Commission (NLC) will map traditional and community dispute resolution structures in Turkana and West Pokot, identify best practices for resolving land disputes, and assess existing laws, policies, and county-level systems to ensure the protection of community land rights and promote peace, security, and sustainable land management.
This initiative builds upon previous achievements, including IGAD’s 2021 Manual on Alternative Dispute Resolution. Since then, Kenya has made notable progress by introducing a national ADR policy, establishing an Alternative Justice System (AJS) framework, and implementing court-annexed mediation mechanisms to enhance land dispute resolution.
The new guidelines will be piloted in Turkana and West Pokot before a nationwide rollout by the National Land Commission. This effort aligns with Kenya’s constitutional commitment to equitable, efficient and sustainable land management while serving as a learning model for other IGAD member states.
This initiative also contributes to IGAD’s broader mandate on peace and security and supports the implementation of the African Union Declaration on Land Issues and Challenges, which encourages regional economic communities to share best practices and coordinate land governance efforts across Africa.
