Chief Land Registrar: Wanjohi Gichuki Marsabit Land Registrar Confirmed After Court Order

• Wanjohi Gichuki was designated as the Community Land Registrar for Marsabit County in January 2021, a fact confirmed by Chief Land Registrar David Nyandoro.
• The designation was part of a national initiative where 113 senior Land Registrars were appointed as Community Land Registrars on January 28, 2021, under Section 9 of the Kenya Community Land Act.
• Marsabit County's land registrations are handled by the Isiolo Land Registry, as the county does not possess its own dedicated registry.
• In March 2024, the Marsabit county government submitted an inventory of 18 unregistered community land units, and the Land Cabinet Secretary gazetted the community land adjudication programme on July 3, 2024.
• Three Marsabit communities—Laisamis, Logologo, and Karare—have already formed Community Land Management Committees and received registration certificates.

The confirmation of Wanjohi Gichuki as the designated Wanjohi Gichuki Marsabit Land Registrar, effective January 2021, provides crucial clarity for land transactions and community land rights in the region.

A recent court directive compelled the Chief Land Registrar, David Nyandoro, who was temporarily reinstated by the Court of Appeal, to disclose critical information regarding the designated Community Land Registrar for Marsabit County. This action followed a request initiated in May 2023 by James Gitau, who sought to identify the official responsible for this role. Gitau's inquiry, submitted on May 29, 2023, specifically requested the name of the designated registrar for Marsabit, the date of their appointment, a timeline for any pending appointments, and an explanation for any delays.

Despite the Chief Land Registrar's office receiving Gitau's request on June 12, 2023, no response was provided, as indicated by correspondence from the Office of the Attorney General. This lack of communication prompted Gitau to seek intervention from the Commission on Administrative Justice. The Commission subsequently issued an order instructing the Chief Land Registrar to facilitate access to the requested information and records within a seven-day period. The Office of the Attorney General was also cautioned that non-compliance with this order could lead to contempt of court proceedings.

In response to the court order, David Nyandoro confirmed that Wanjohi Gichuki had been designated as the Community Land Registrar for Marsabit County. Nyandoro further clarified that Marsabit County does not operate its own dedicated Land Registry; instead, all property registrations pertinent to the county are currently managed by the Isiolo Land Registry.

The confirmation from Chief Land Registrar David Nyandoro, conveyed in a letter to the High Court, revealed that the designation of a Community Land Registrar for Marsabit County had occurred much earlier than Gitau's inquiry. Nyandoro stated that Wanjohi Gichuki was officially designated in January 2021, more than two years before the information was sought. This designation was part of a broader national initiative.

According to Nyandoro, a total of 113 senior Land Registrars were designated as Community Land Registrars and subsequently posted across the country on January 28, 2021. These appointments were made in strict adherence to Section 9 of the Kenya Community Land Act. Wanjohi Gichuki, in his capacity as the designated Wanjohi Gichuki Marsabit Land Registrar, submitted a report to the Land Cabinet Secretary, Alice Wahome, on June 29, 2026, detailing relevant activities and progress.

Beyond the specific designation, Chief Land Registrar David Nyandoro also provided an update on the broader efforts to register community land within Marsabit County. In March 2024, the Marsabit county government submitted an inventory to the Cabinet Secretary, detailing 18 units of unregistered community land. This inventory was compiled based on the electoral wards within the county, providing a structured overview of the land requiring formal recognition.

Further advancing the process, the Land Cabinet Secretary published the community land adjudication programme for Marsabit County through a Gazette Notice issued on July 3, 2024. This official publication marked the initiation of the comprehensive process for community land recognition, adjudication, and subsequent registration across the county. Significant progress has already been observed, with three communities in Marsabit—Laisamis, Logologo, and Karare—having successfully conducted elections, selected their respective Community Land Management Committees, and received official certificates of registration.

The official confirmation of Wanjohi Gichuki as the Wanjohi Gichuki Marsabit Land Registrar, designated in January 2021, provides essential clarity for legal professionals and individuals involved in land transactions or community land rights within Marsabit County. This disclosure, prompted by a court order, outlines the established channels for engaging with community land registration processes and underscores the ongoing implementation of the Kenya Community Land Act in the region.

For lawyers advising on land matters, the identification of the designated Community Land Registrar and the operational Isiolo Land Registry Marsabit clarifies the proper administrative avenues. The progress in Marsabit community land adjudication, including the formation of Community Land Management Committees and the gazettement of the adjudication programme, signifies a tangible advancement in securing and formalizing community land rights, offering a clearer path for future land governance and development.

Lawyers advising on land transactions or community land rights in Marsabit County now have confirmed details of the designated Community Land Registrar, Wanjohi Gichuki, and the operational land registry (Isiolo). This clarifies the proper channels for engaging with community land registration processes and highlights the ongoing implementation of the Community Land Act in the region, including the formation of Community Land Management Committees.

Source: Original reporting via Capital FM