The era of dishing out public land to politically connected speculators is officially over—at least on paper. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has this morning unveiled a rigorous "Public Land Investment Scoring System" (PLISS) that will now dictate who gets access to state-owned parcels.

The new regulations are a response to the rampant "hoarding" of land meant for industrial parks and affordable housing. Under the new 10-point test, potential investors must demonstrate financial closure, technical capacity, and job creation potential before a lease is signed. "We are not in the business of creating land banks for brokers," Mbadi declared.

The "Use It or Lose It" Clause

The most radical shift is the introduction of strict development timelines. Investors who fail to break ground within 18 months of allocation will now face automatic lease revocation without compensation. This targets the thousands of acres currently lying idle in Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

• The Criteria: The 10 points are weighted across Financial Health (30%), Job Creation (30%), Technology Transfer (20%), and Environmental Impact (20%). A minimum score of 7/10 is required for approval.
• The Target: The policy specifically eyes the vast tracts of land held by parastatals like Kenya Railways and the Prisons Service, aiming to unlock their commercial value through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

Investor Jitters?

While the move aims to streamline investment, some developers warn the stringent conditions could stifle interest. "Capital is cowardly," noted a real estate consultant. "If the government makes the entry barrier too high, investors might simply look to Rwanda or Tanzania."