Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has warned that corruption, inefficiency, and manipulation of land records must be eliminated to restore public trust in government services.

In a statement on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Koskei said he had convened a high-level virtual consultation with multiple land-related agencies, stressing that coordinated reforms are necessary to fix long-standing inefficiencies that have affected service delivery and investor confidence.

He explained that the discussion focused on aligning institutions to work as one system rather than fragmented offices.

“In the ongoing revitalisation and re-energisation of the Public Service, today I held a consultative virtual meeting with the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, Land Administration, Directorate of Survey, Land Valuation, Land Registration, Kenya Institute of Surveying and Mapping, National Land Information Management, Physical Planners Registration Board, Valuers Registration Board, Settlement Trustee Fund and the Surveyors Registration Board,” the statement reads.

Koskei further emphasised that land remains one of the most sensitive and valuable national resources, deeply tied to livelihoods, economic growth, and social stability, and therefore must be managed with utmost transparency and fairness.

He noted that when land systems function properly, citizens are able to carry out transactions smoothly, but when they fail, disputes increase, development slows, and public confidence in institutions is weakened.

“Land sits at the centre of livelihoods, investment, and national stability. It remains an emotive issue, touching on history, identity, and equity. When the system works, Kenyans transact with confidence. When it fails, it fuels disputes, delays development, and erodes trust,” the statement reads.

Koskei also raised concern over corruption within land offices, saying that unethical practices such as file manipulation, missing records, and issuance of multiple titles for the same land have continued to undermine service delivery.

He warned that such actions are deliberate and harmful, denying citizens their rightful ownership and distorting justice in land administration processes across the country.

“Corruption within land processes continues to undermine service delivery. Officers delay, manipulate or block services that should be straightforward. Files go missing, Records get altered, and in some cases, the system produces multiple titles for the same parcel. These are deliberate acts that deny citizens their rights and distort justice,” the statement reads.

Koskei made it clear that the government will not allow digital systems to be used to mask inefficiency or enable malpractice, insisting that reforms must be accompanied by accountability and transparency at every stage.

He stressed that all services must be predictable, time-bound, and open to scrutiny to ensure citizens receive fair treatment without influence or corruption.

“I made it clear that we cannot digitise inefficiency or automate malpractice. Services must be predictable, transparent, and time-bound. Every process must withstand scrutiny,” he wrote.

He further outlined key reform priorities, including full digitisation, elimination of fraud, improved coordination among agencies, and strict enforcement of accountability measures to ensure the system functions efficiently.

Koskei concluded by stating that land services must be fair, reliable, and free from interference, adding that public resources must be treated as a trust for the benefit of all Kenyans.