Lawyers Rally Against Land Registrar’s Poor Services, Petition for Immediate Reforms
The Mt Kenya Times 
Lawyers affiliated with the South West Branch Law Society of Kenya (LSK) addressing the media. Photo/Elizabeth Angira
By Elizabeth Angira
Worth Noting:
- Maroko, accompanied by Ben Gichana and George Morara, the chairman of the Young Lawyers, further criticized Ayienda for refusing to have face-to-face consultations on sensitive matters and instead directing them to write letters to address their concerns.
- Maroko urged the Registrar to ensure that cautions are registered after the required documents are presented, and that searches and green cards are unconditionally provided and made accessible to lawyers.
- He also appealed to Ayienda to make certified documents available to lawyers upon formal request and payment of fees.
- Maroko emphasized that power of attorney documents should be registered as long as they comply with the prescribed contents outlined in the rules.
Lawyers affiliated with the South West Branch Law Society of Kenya (LSK) have petitioned Charles Ayienda, the land registrar of Kisii County, over alleged poor services at the Land Registry.
During the incident, the lawyers presented a petition to Ayienda at his office, accompanied by tight security, accusing him of imposing stringent conditions for accessing land documents and failing to address their concerns.
Polycarp Maroko, the Secretary General of the Branch, led the lawyers in expressing their grievances.
They claimed that they were unable to obtain a search even when they provided documents from their offices, which was hindering their work.
Maroko stated that advocates often receive instructions from parties who lack documents to prove ownership or interest in disputed land parcels and seek to file a claim in court.
He said that pursuant to Article 35 of the constitution they are required to issue the documents sought from the land registry without unnecessary huddles that curtail the dispensation of expeditious and affordable justice.
The lawyers expected Ayienda to issue the necessary documents in such cases.
Maroko, accompanied by Ben Gichana and George Morara, the chairman of the Young Lawyers, further criticized Ayienda for refusing to have face-to-face consultations on sensitive matters and instead directing them to write letters to address their concerns.
Maroko urged the Registrar to ensure that cautions are registered after the required documents are presented, and that searches and green cards are unconditionally provided and made accessible to lawyers.
He also appealed to Ayienda to make certified documents available to lawyers upon formal request and payment of fees.
Maroko emphasized that power of attorney documents should be registered as long as they comply with the prescribed contents outlined in the rules.
He accused the land registrar of demeaning the lawyers and declared that they would continue to protest against the poor services until their demands were met.
Gichana called on Ayienda to allow lawyers to access searches online to save time and money instead of having to physically go to the registrar’s office.
He also urged Ayienda to honor court summons, assuring him that lawyers were willing to pay for the services, and requested the removal of obstacles that hindered efficient service delivery.
In response to the accusations, Ayienda, accompanied by Deputy County Commissioner Wilberforce Kilonzo, stated that 80 percent of the land documents presented to his office were forged, which prompted the lawyers’ protests and subsequent departure.
Ayienda emphasized that his objective was to reform the registry and enhance service delivery, asserting that the registry would undergo significant changes.
He further mentioned that his attempts to meet with Gideon Nyambati, the chairman of the Branch, in order to address the grievances, were unsuccessful.
The lawyers vowed that they are going to hold peaceful demonstration every week till their grievances have been heard.
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Sifuna’s political shake-up: Punishment, power play or a warning to dissenters?
- DCP eyes parliamentary dominance after Ol Kalou by-election win
- Kenyan students head to Germany in first labour mobility cohort
- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER July 17, 2026
- Ol-Kalou by-election in pictures
About the Author
