Government Unveils AI and Big Data Initiative to Tackle Land Fraud

By :Anne Nyambura

ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo presided over the 3rd Regional Research Conference kicked over on Wednesday June 12, 2024 at Kenya School of Government ‘themed’ Data Innovation and Technology for Land Governance.

Government established the National Land Management System know as Arthi sasa to provide one-stop-shop for land transactions where users can undertake several online land transactions such as land registration, valuation, surveying adjudication, planning and allocation.
Speaking at the conference ICT CS Eliud Owalo said digitization and digitalization in land is set to end corruption, analog fraud and lack of transparency.

“Through digitization of records and processes, and improved access to land information, we can better realize our goals of economic prosperity and social well-being. Furthermore, the national government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) under the thematic areas of Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy, also aims to promote and increase productivity and competitiveness by eliminating information asymmetry in market access and risk management. This in turn accelerates access to and use of information on land by a majority of ordinary Kenyans”, said Owalo

The National Land Commission (NLC) Chief Executive Officer Kabale Tache Arero

In her opening remarks said the Conference is poised to showcase prominent researchers in the realms of land governance, data & innovation. These experts will present their findings from completed research projects and share their expert knowledge with a broad audience.

“Data, Innovation &Technology are keys to modernizing land governance. Our conference theme reflects the urgent need for adaptive strategies in a rapidly changing world” noted NLC CEO Kabale Tache

On the same breath, CEO National Research Fund Prof. Dickson Andala noted, “NRF facilitates research through key thematic areas based on Kenya’s existing frameworks as listed in the ST&I Act 2013, Second Schedule Section 9(1), which include; Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Biological and Health Sciences, Physical, Industrial and Energy Sciences; Infrastructure, Information and Communication Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; and Earth and Space Sciences.” Noted NRF CEO Prof. Dickson Andala.

Moreover the government is finding a solution on how can Information Communication Technology (ICT) be tapped to effectively support land markets and land reform
activities.

Additionally the adoption of Artificial Intelligence is a key factor the government is working on and use of big data in implementing land reforms while safeguarding the integrity and security of the process.

“The digital revolution is the present and the future and every aspect of our lives, talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and remote sensing among others. Every day we interact with at least one of these. Looking ahead, the government continues to explore emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Digital LedgerTechnologies such as Blockchain. These technologies are not just about keeping up with global trends, they are about re-imagining the future of Kenya’s economy, governance, and society,” added CS Owalo

The government is also investing in digital skills through Digital Literacy Capacity Building to enhance service delivery to citizens. This will enable the citizens utilize technology in their businesses as well as access government e-services.