Nairobi,KENYA:Institution of surveyors of Kenya (ISK), has vowed to seek legal redress if the governor of Kericho fails to revoke the order of closing down survey offices in the County and engage the ISK as well as the Directorate of the Survey at the National Government over the emerging issue.
The institution argues that the closures of offices will negatively affect members of the public seeking services from the national survey office.
Speaking to journalists in Nairobi on Wednesday, Chairman of the council Abraham Samoei rejected the move that seeks to introduce devolved regulation of their professional practice saying it is invalid going by the provision of the constitution of Kenya.
“Nationwide, the land surveyors Board and ISK are the only recognized and competent authorities to regulate the profession” Samoei Said.
He cited that, the national survey offices that the county government seeks to close are established under the survey Act cap 299 and buttresses by the land act 2012, land Registration Act and the constitution Advisory opinion Reference No.2 of 2014.
According the council, the offices in the counties and sub-counties have been set to bring national government services close to citizens in every county and the act of the Kericho government closing down the offices, is regarded as a move to deny people a chance to get certificate of titles for their land amongst other services.
“The county government must also follow the due process of engaging key stakeholders in formulating laws that affect them” He added.
The chair, explained that the roles of the county government is clearly specified in the constitution that only survey and mapping functions that support county planning and development be undertaken by the county.
“We wish to inform the Kericho County Government and the wider public that national surveying and mapping function encompasses many national functions, which can only be effectively carried out by the National Office” He said.
The institution attention was drawn after the closure of the Survey of Kenya offices within the county of Kericho by the Governor in the past week.
