Denis Opudo
There are various challenges that are associated with double land ownership in Kenya. This occurs where land registry official colludes with cartels to produce counterfeit land title deeds illegally. Startup entrepreneurs suggested solutions of land frauds by use of blockchain technology. The system operates by creating genuine, digital and automatic land register.
Some countries such as Rwanda, Honduras, and Georgia sealed to ensure implementation of blockchain land titling platform. In this system, land database information is stored in digital registries which undergo regular screening via computer software.
Globally, business firms and government agencies work tirelessly to integrate data storage via blockchain leading world-class digital ledger transaction platform.
In accordance with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization report, land registration in African countries traced back to the colonial period era. This led to unclear land ownership particularly in regions characterized by communion land ownership. Blockchain technology seems to offer solutions of land-related frauds by generating public online land register. In addition, the innovation will also eliminate incidences of generating double title deeds.
Land Layby Group Company plan to launch private land registration to allow foreign investors to transact land business in Kenya. The online registry will be based on cryptocurrency unit Harambee token. The initiative will reward correct entries to blockchain and penalize wrong entries.
The system rewards different rates of Harambee tokens for people making correct land registration. On average, first person 100 tokens, second obtains 80 tokens, third receive 50 and finally fourth gets 35 tokens. However, wrong entries redeem tokens to zero equivalents to the nominal value.
According to the head of Land Layby Group, Peter Tole, Most African countries are adopting blockchain technology for revolution of land registry. The initiative will also supplement state land records and facilitates authentication of land records and title deeds in Kenya. Nevertheless, there exist low chances of government permitting blockchain technology in Kenya. This emanates from Central Bank of Kenya staunch stand of not supporting all forms of cryptocurrency transactions in the country. There is, therefore, the possibility of the firm rubbing shoulders with state agencies for the Harambee tokens operations in the country.
A large percentage of land ownership in Kenya is communal which promotes the spirit of corruption in land registry. Notorious land cartels misplace land registration files which enable them to illegally acquire lucrative lands in towns or public land.
Land registry ranked top correct sectors in Kenya by Transparency International which is an Anti-graft Watchdog in the country.
In Ghana, for instance, about eighty percent of landowners do not have valid land title deeds. Land issues are normally conducted orally without formal registration undertaken during land transaction exercise. A new Bitland Ghanaian startup launched digital ledger to beef up integrity in land ministry.
Although Bitland operations seem old in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria adopt the technology to help in improving land registration.
The landowners and families stand a high chance of obtaining bank Mortgages and loans from the updated land registry. The technology benefits the community by conducting interviews and surveys to determine land boundaries, especially from chiefs, elderly people and farmers.
