Lands Department wins six digital transformation awards as Wahome hails service delivery

Speaking during the launch of the department’s 2026 Customer Service Week at the Geospatial Data Center in Nairobi, Wahome said the awards reflected the department’s efforts to improve government services through digitisation, automation and stronger institutional systems.

The department was named State Department of the Year at the Mombasa event, while its various digital platforms and initiatives also received recognition in several categories.

The National Stamp Duty Module (NSDM) was recognised as State Department of the Year and emerged first runner-up in the Best Digital Innovation, Financial and E-Commerce Services category.

ArdhiPay won the Best Digital Inclusion and Accessibility award, while Ardhisasa was recognised for Digital Communications Excellence.

The National Land Information Management System (NLIMS) won Best Collaborative Government Digital Initiative and was also named first runner-up in the Best Digital Innovation, Natural Resource Management category.

Wahome said the department’s performance was not limited to awards, pointing to its implementation of large-scale programmes such as the national land titling programme.

“Last Saturday, we successfully concluded the historic first phase of the transformative initiative to address long-standing land injustices in the Coast region,” she said.

The CS said the government had distributed 300,000 title deeds to beneficiaries across Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Mombasa, Lamu and Tana River counties during the first phase.

She said President William Ruto had directed the State Department to sustain the momentum through the Rapid Response Initiative and process an additional 200,000 title deeds by December.

Wahome also cited the department’s recognition at the Africa Digital Economy Awards and its performance in the Public Service Commission’s assessment of adherence to public service values and principles over the last two financial years.

“These accolades underscore the excellence of our performance as an institution and we should be extremely proud,” she said.

She attributed the achievements to digital transformation, strengthened anti-corruption measures, inter-agency collaboration and teamwork.

Wahome urged staff to build on the gains and use the 2026 Customer Service Week theme, “The Extra Mile”, to put citizens at the centre of service delivery.

Principal Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning Generali Nixon Korir said the awards reflected the collective efforts of staff to improve service delivery and institutional performance.

Korir said digitisation and automation had helped seal administrative loopholes that previously contributed to delays and created opportunities for corruption.

He said the reforms had also improved efficiency and contributed to increased revenue generation within the department.

“Our professionalism, efficiency and integrity directly touch the economic and social wellbeing of individual citizens, families, businesses and the growth of our nation. Let us go the extra mile in serving Kenyans,” Korir said.

He urged staff to maintain professionalism, integrity and patriotism, noting that land remains a key foundation of the economy and that the quality of land services has a direct impact on citizens, families and businesses.

The State Department has also been engaging stakeholders in the land sector during the Customer Service Week, with tailored workshops targeting lawyers, bankers, physical planners, surveyors and other professionals.

Wahome said the department would continue to focus on improving service delivery while sustaining the digitisation of land-related services.