President William Ruto has selected a new chairperson and six commissioners for the National Land Commission (NLC) and submitted their names to Parliament for ratification.
These selections, disclosed by the Head of Public Service on Tuesday, February 17, come after a recent Court of Appeal decision that enabled the nominations.
The appellate court sanctioned the recruitment and selection of a third group of commissioners specifically to occupy the open positions of chairperson and six commissioners, awaiting the final determination of pending appeals from prior candidates.
The judgment also established that the service periods of the two incumbent commissioners, Esther Murugi Mathenge and Tiyah Galgalo Ali, whose contracts conclude on December 20 of this year, will continue unchanged.
The Head of State has designated Dr Abdillahi Saggaf Alawy as the new Chairperson of the NLC. He will succeed the current chairperson, Gershom Otachi.
Accompanying Alawy on the NLC board are financial specialist Susan Khakasa Oyatsi, Daniel Murithi Muriungi, Kigen Vincent Cheruiyot (previous Chairperson of the National Employment Authority), Dr Julie Ouma Oseko, an attorney and senior legal consultant, former Banisa MP Mohamed Abdi Haji Mohamed, and former Kajiado Women Representative Mary Yiane Seneta.
Seneta is one of nine persons who were initially selected by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to serve as members of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in 2025. Nevertheless, she was not included in the final selection.
The attention now turns to Parliament, which is expected to review the names before presenting them to the President for official confirmation to the commission.
‘His Excellency the President has initiated nominations for appointment to the positions of membership of the National Land Commission (NLC). In accordance with the judgment of the Appellate Court, it is hereby announced that the Head of State and Government has designated the Chairperson and six members of the National Land Commission, as specified,’ the declaration stated in part.
‘In complete adherence to the constitutional criteria for State appointments, his excellency the President has forwarded the nominations to the National Assembly for review and endorsement by Parliament.’
The NLC serves as the principal constitutional body, examining historical injustices, proposing land policy, and supervising land use planning.