Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has announced a sweeping land sector reform agenda aimed at securing tenure, resolving long-standing disputes, and guiding sustainable urban and rural development across the county. Speaking in Wajir Town during a public address, Abdullahi said his administration is determined to modernize land governance and strengthen planning systems to support economic growth. The governor, who also chairs the Council of Governors, revealed that seven new physical and land-use development plans have been completed for key towns, signalling a deliberate effort to position them as emerging hubs of trade and investment.
The governor acknowledged that Wajir’s land sector continues to face deep-seated challenges, including unregistered community land, historical conflicts, and competing demands from pastoralist livelihoods. He noted that customary tenure systems, though culturally significant, have left many residents vulnerable to land grabbing and legal uncertainty. To address this, the county has intensified surveying efforts, including the mapping of 3,000 plots within informal settlements in Wajir municipality and more than 20,000 parcels countywide. Abdullahi said the county is working closely with the Ministry of Lands and the National Land Commission to issue allotment letters and leasehold titles, with a target of processing 5,000 titles in the first phase of the programme.
Residents and stakeholders have welcomed the reforms, saying they could unlock long-stalled economic opportunities and reduce persistent land-related tensions. According to the county, secure land ownership will enable more households to access credit, invest in businesses, and engage in planned settlement. Abdullahi also announced that the Wajir Land Information Management System is ready for rollout, a digital platform expected to enhance transparency, reduce corruption, and streamline land transactions. As climate change intensifies competition for resources in arid areas, the governor urged communities, government agencies, and development partners to collaborate in safeguarding land rights and promoting sustainable land use for future generations.