University of Nairobi Hosts 2025 Research Fair on Land Governance and Technology

The Faculty of Law hosted its annual Research Fair on March 13, 2025, uniting legal experts, policymakers, researchers, and students under the theme “Legal Innovations for a Sustainable World: Bridging Technology and Land Governance in Kenya.” The event, a collaborative effort with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Union, underscored the urgent need to address systemic challenges in Kenya’s land governance through legal reforms and technological integration.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jesang Hutchinson, was represented by Dean Prof. Winfred Kamau, Her remarks emphasized the University’s commitment to advancing research that bridges academia and policy, particularly in tackling Kenya’s legacy of opaque land governance. She highlighted how innovations such as blockchain and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) could dismantle bureaucratic inefficiencies and corruption in land administration. Her address also lauded the creativity of law students, whose trivia sessions on legal innovations reflected a generational shift toward tech-driven solutions.

FAO’s contributions were central to the dialogue. The Assistant Country Representative, Mr. Hamisi William, had his remarks delivered by Husna Mbarak, who anchored the discussion in global priorities. Ms. Mbarak stressed that insecure land tenure systems exacerbate poverty, hunger, and environmental degradation, aligning Kenya’s challenges with FAO’s mission to eradicate hunger through equitable governance. She elaborated on the Digital Land Governance Programme (DLGP), a partnership between FAO, the European Union, and the University of Nairobi, designed to foster thought leadership, gender-inclusive research, and curriculum reforms. The programme’s five pillars, from establishing a multidisciplinary think tank to promoting student-led research, aim to institutionalize sustainable practices. Mbarak further linked Kenya’s reforms to FAO’s “Four Betters” agenda (Better Production, Nutrition, Environment, and Life), emphasizing that digitizing land records could protect vulnerable communities and empower smallholder farmers while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mr. Gershom Otachi, Chairperson of the National Land Commission (NLC), built on this foundation by reflecting on Kenya’s post-2010 constitutional reforms. He noted that the redistribution of land management powers among national and county institutions marked a critical departure from centralized control. Drawing parallels to the transformative impact of M-Pesa in Kenya’s financial sector, Otachi argued that digitizing land registries would similarly curb fraud and enhance accountability. “Land is the bedrock of development,” he asserted, “and technology must serve as its custodian.”

Prof. Collins Odote, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law, addressed the legal frameworks required to anchor technological innovations. He emphasized that tools like GIS and blockchain are only as effective as the laws governing their use, calling for legislative reforms to address gaps in data privacy, community participation, and dispute resolution. His insights were complemented by PhD students, whose lightning talks showcased research on AI-driven land dispute mechanisms and participatory mapping initiatives, blending academic rigor with grassroots relevance.

The keynote address by Mr. Quency Otieno was a bold call to action. Drawing parallels between Kenya’s pioneering role in mobile money and its potential in land governance, he described blockchain as a “vaccine against land fraud” and urged stakeholders to prioritize interoperability between county and national land databases. His address resonated with the day’s recurring theme: that legal innovation and technology are inseparable allies in the fight for transparency.

The event culminated in the launch of the UNLJuris Magazine’s online edition, celebrating student scholarship, and an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions to land governance research. In closing, the Dean reiterated the University’s dedication to fostering partnerships that translate research into policy, urging continued collaboration among governments, academia, and international bodies.

The 2025 Research Fair was more than an academic gathering; it was a clarion call for systemic change. By championing legal innovation and digital tools, Kenya is poised to transform its land governance landscape, marking a critical step toward securing livelihoods, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring food security for future generations. The journey to sustainability is collective, and the time to act is now!