How Kenya is Using Satellite Data to Settle Land Rights – The Borgen Project

Report on Geospatial Technology for Land Tenure Formalization in Kenya and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

This report analyzes Kenya’s utilization of satellite data and associated technologies to formalize land rights in informal urban settlements. The initiative represents a significant advancement in achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing insecure land tenure, a primary barrier to sustainable development for over half of the nation’s urban residents.

Technological Framework for Sustainable Urban Development

High-Resolution Mapping Technologies

The foundation of Kenya’s land tenure program is the application of advanced remote sensing technologies. This approach directly supports the implementation of SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by providing the data necessary to upgrade informal settlements.

• Satellite Imagery and UAVs: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and satellite data are used to capture high-resolution images. In Kajiado County, these methods achieved ground sample distances of approximately six centimeters, enabling precise boundary mapping.
• Smart Sketch Mapping: Researchers have developed systems that integrate this imagery with smart sketch mapping tools, creating an efficient and accurate process for documenting land parcels that were previously unmapped.

Community-Led Data Collection and Inclusive Governance

A “fit-for-purpose” methodology emphasizes community participation, aligning with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions by fostering inclusive and participatory decision-making.

• Participatory Surveying: In Makueni County, surveyors used handheld devices displaying satellite imagery, allowing villagers to walk the perimeters of their land. GPS antennas recorded the boundary points, directly involving residents in the creation of their digital land records.
• Social Tenure Domain Model: U.N.-Habitat’s Social Tenure Domain Model tool has been instrumental in participatory mapping efforts, such as in the Kwa Bulo settlement in Mombasa, where over 1,000 Certificates of Occupancy were issued based on community-led enumerations.

The Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP)

A Multi-Stakeholder Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17)

The Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP) is the primary national initiative driving this transformation. Its structure exemplifies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, combining national leadership with international support.

1. Partners: The project is a collaboration between the Government of Kenya, the World Bank, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and the Agence Française de Développement.
2. Scope: Operating in approximately 40 counties, KISIP focuses on land tenure regularization through comprehensive planning, surveying, and the issuance of legal ownership documents.
3. Beneficiaries: Since its launch in 2011, the project has positively impacted over 1.4 million residents of informal settlements.

Project Impact on Upgrading Informal Settlements (SDG 11)

The second phase of KISIP, initiated in March 2021, targets informal settlements on uncontested public land, directly contributing to Target 11.1, which aims to ensure access to adequate housing and upgrade slums. In Nyeri County alone, KISIP2 has prepared over 1,470 title deeds, with 540 already issued to residents.

Socio-Economic Advancement and SDG Achievement

Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth (SDG 1 & SDG 8)

Securing land tenure is a catalyst for economic transformation, directly addressing SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

• Access to Capital: With legally recognized title deeds, residents can secure bank loans, enabling investment in permanent housing and the establishment of small businesses.
• Stimulating Local Economies: Increased tenure security in settlements like Kwa Bulo has led to a rise in economic activities, including new retail businesses and construction projects that generate local employment.
• Government Support: The government’s waiver of Sh12.3 billion in interest on land settlement loans for 520 settlement schemes further unlocks the economic potential of land for low-income households.

Reducing Inequalities and Promoting Justice (SDG 10 & SDG 16)

The formalization of land ownership is a critical step toward reducing systemic inequality and strengthening the rule of law.

• Legal Security: Formal titles provide residents with legal protection against forced evictions, a fundamental aspect of SDG 16.
• Asset Ownership: By granting legal ownership of land to residents of informal settlements, the initiative directly addresses SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, empowering marginalized communities with valuable economic assets.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

Kenya’s integration of satellite technology, participatory mapping, and strategic partnerships provides a scalable model for addressing informal land tenure globally. The success of initiatives like KISIP demonstrates that technology-driven solutions can effectively resolve historical land injustices while accelerating progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The continued expansion of these technologies, supported by organizations such as Flying Labs Kenya, is essential for securing the futures of millions and building more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Kenya’s use of satellite data to settle land rights addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on poverty reduction, economic growth, inequality, urban development, justice, and partnerships through the lens of land tenure security.

1. SDG 1: No Poverty – The article directly connects secure land tenure to economic upliftment. It states that with formal land titles, residents can “unlock economic opportunities” and use title deeds as “collateral for bank loans,” enabling them to escape poverty by investing in businesses and better housing.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – By providing residents with assets (land titles), the initiative stimulates local economies. The article notes that secure tenure led to “increased economic activities, including new retail businesses and construction projects that created employment opportunities for youth.”
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The core of the initiative is the use of modern technology. The article highlights the application of “satellite imagery,” “unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),” “smart sketch mapping,” and “GPS antennas” as innovative solutions to a long-standing development challenge.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The project specifically targets residents of “informal settlements, where more than half of urban residents live without formal land titles.” By formalizing their land ownership, the initiative reduces the deep-seated inequality between residents of informal settlements and those with legally recognized property.
5. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The article focuses on improving living conditions in urban informal settlements. The Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP) is a direct effort to upgrade these areas, and providing secure land tenure is a foundational step toward making these communities more inclusive, safe, and sustainable.
6. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – The process of formalizing land ownership and issuing “legally recognized documentation” strengthens the rule of law and builds trust in government institutions. It addresses “historical land injustices” and provides a legal identity for property, which is a key function of a just and effective state.
7. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article explicitly mentions the collaborative nature of the KISIP initiative, describing it as a “partnership between the Government of Kenya, the World Bank, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Agence Française de Développement.” It also references the work of U.N.-Habitat, demonstrating a multi-stakeholder approach to achieving development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property. The entire article is centered on this target, detailing how Kenya is providing “formal land titles” and “ownership documents” to residents of informal settlements.
• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The project empowers residents of informal settlements, a marginalized group, by granting them legal land ownership, thereby promoting their economic inclusion.
• Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. Providing secure land tenure through projects like KISIP is a critical first step in the process of upgrading slums, as it encourages residents to invest in “permanent housing.”
• Target 16.9: By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration. While not about birth registration, the issuance of “title deeds” and “Certificates of Occupancy” provides a form of legal identity for property, which aligns with the target’s broader goal of legal recognition by the state.
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article showcases this target through the KISIP partnership involving the Kenyan government and international bodies like the World Bank and SIDA, as well as collaborations with U.N.-Habitat.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 1.4: The article provides direct data related to Indicator 1.4.2 (Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land).
  • Quantitative Data: It states that KISIP2 “has prepared more than 1,470 titles in Nyeri County alone, with 540 already issued.” It also mentions that in Kwa Bulo, “more than 1,000 Certificates of Occupancy were issued.” The overall project has benefited “more than 1.4 million residents.” These numbers directly measure the issuance of legally recognized documentation.
• Indicator for Target 11.1: Progress towards upgrading slums can be measured by the number of people and settlements covered by the formalization program.
  • Quantitative Data: The article notes that KISIP “operates in about 40 counties” and has benefited “more than 1.4 million residents” of informal settlements. This indicates the scale of the slum upgrading initiative.
• Indicators for Economic Impact (Targets 1.4, 8.3): The article implies indicators related to economic improvement following tenure regularization.
  • Qualitative Data: It reports that residents “used their new titles to access bank loans.”
  • Anecdotal Evidence: The story of Peter Kagai, who used his title deed to “secure loans to educate his children and invest in his farm,” serves as a case-study indicator of economic empowerment.
  • Observed Outcomes: The mention of “new retail businesses and construction projects” in Kwa Bulo is an observable indicator of increased economic activity.
• Indicator for Partnerships (Target 17.17): The existence and composition of the partnership itself is an indicator.
  • Descriptive Data: The article identifies the specific partners involved in KISIP: “the Government of Kenya, the World Bank, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Agence Française de Développement,” plus U.N.-Habitat. This demonstrates a functioning multi-stakeholder partnership.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: borgenproject.org