The 170-kilometre Rironi–Mau Summit road is among key government capital projects facing completion delays despite scheduled timelines, due to paralysis at the National Land Commission (NLC) caused by a lack of commissioners to transact commission business.
This emerged as President William Ruto on Tuesday nominated Abdillahi Saggaf for appointment as NLC chairperson and Susan Oyatsi (Vice Chairperson), Daniel Murithi, Vincent Cheruiyot, Julie Ouma, former MPs Mohamed Haji and Mary Seneta as members.
The National Assembly will have 14 days to consider their suitability and approve or reject their nomination.
A functional NLC is critical for undertaking compulsory land acquisition decisions required for major government infrastructure projects.
However, such decisions cannot be made at the moment because the commission, as currently constituted before the new nominees assume office, lacks the requisite quorum to approve extensive land acquisitions.
Seven of the nine members of the NLC, including the chairperson, exited office at midnight on November 14, 2025, after serving their six-year non-renewable terms.
Under the NLC Act, decisions must be made at plenary meetings that are properly constituted.
“The quorum of the meeting shall not be less than half of the members,” reads part three of the Fourth Schedule of the NLC Act, implying that at least five commissioners must be present to make decisions.
Kabale Tache, Chief Executive Officer of the National Land Commission on October 8, 2025.
Photo credit: Moraa Obiria | Nation Media Group
The law further provides that in the event of vacancies, “the quorum of the meeting shall not be less than three members.”
This means the remaining two commissioners Esther Murugi and Tiya Galgalo whose terms run until December 20, 2026 are unable to transact business.
At a meeting with the Energy Committee of the National Assembly, NLC CEO Ms Kabale Tache said that the commission, as presently constituted, was handicapped in executing its mandate.
“Presently, the commission is not fully constituted following the lapse of tenure of seven commissioners in November 2025, and the remaining two commissioners do not meet the legal quorum required to make binding Commission determinations," Ms Kabale said.
"Consequently, progression to award issuance and compensation payment is contingent upon the onboarding of additional Commissioners. We hope that the new commissioners will be in office as soon as possible because there is a lot to be done,” said Ms Tache.
The commissioners who left office on November 14, 2025 include chairperson Gershom Otachi, vice chairperson Gertrude Nguku and members Prof James Tuitoek, Mr Kazungu Kambi, Mr Alister Mutugi and Mr Reginald Okumu.
Former National Land Commission Chairman Gershom Otachi, who left office in November last year. Abdillahi Saggaf has been nominated to take over the position.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The Rironi–Naivasha–Mau Summit road projected to cost about Sh200 billion was officially launched by President William Ruto in November 2025 and is scheduled for completion by June 1, 2027.
The project requires extensive land acquisition to upgrade the existing road into a four-lane dual carriageway from Rironi to Naivasha and a six-lane dual carriageway between Naivasha and Nakuru.
Despite its launch last year, construction has not begun because land has not been acquired.
Beyond the Rironi–Mau Summit project, the 11,500-acre security infrastructure project in Samburu County is another high-profile compulsory acquisition awaiting NLC action.
A tribunal ruling in February 2026 ordered the NLC to conduct a 90-day social impact assessment due to concerns over water sources and grazing routes.
Meanwhile, the National Infrastructure Fund Bill 2026 proposes new funding mechanisms to ensure compensation funds are deposited before acquisition begins, in line with Section 111A of the Land Act. This is meant to reduce delays historically caused by unpaid compensation.
President William Ruto launches the dualling of 175km Rironi-Mau Summit road at Mau Summit in Nakuru County on November 28, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
The NLC (Amendment) Act of 2025 further tasks the commission with auditing and “cleaning up” historical acquisition processes where compensation was withheld or legal defects occurred.
Other major road projects requiring extensive land acquisition include the upgrading of the Makutano–Mwea–Embu–Meru road into a four-lane highway scheduled to begin in June 2026.
The Nairobi Eastern Missing Link road has also had a notice issued for land acquisition on behalf of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA).
In addition, the Nyali Bridge–Mtwapa–Kwa Kadzengo road in Kilifi County requires land acquisition for expansion alongside rural and regional road upgrades in Kirinyaga and Kiambu.
Compulsory land acquisition delays also threaten President Ruto’s affordable housing programme nationwide.
The government is already fast-tracking land approvals and regularisation of existing housing sites across multiple counties including Vihiga, Kakamega, Wajir and Nandi to support large-scale construction through 2026.
The NLC is also required to acquire about 28,000 hectares for the LAPSSET Development Authority, as well as land in the energy sector, including the potential acquisition of 1,032 hectares for wind power generation in Lamu.
