The Commission dates back to 1954 when Civil Service Commission was established by British Colonial Government following Holmes Commission Report, 1948; Civil Service Commission was advisory to the Governor in matters of appointments;

Duties and Responsibilities

The Secretary, Lands will be responsible to the Principal Secretary. Duties and responsibilities at this level will include: –

• Providing strategic leadership in formulation, implementation and monitoring of land policies, legislations, regulations and strategies;
• Providing strategic leadership and coordination of the various directorates within the state department to ensure efficient and seamless operations and timely implementation of the transformation agenda and other strategic activities in the state Department;
• Coordinating and creating effective partnerships between the State Department, State and non-state actors for effective and seamless implementation of the National Land Information Management System (NLIMS) across the country;
• Being responsible for establishment and implementation of the framework for monitoring, tracking and reporting progress on the implementation of strategic programmes in the state Department;
• Coordinating development of work programmes by respective technical directorates and ensuring proper budgeting for the implementation
• Monitoring the collection of revenue across the various departments in the State Department;
• Developing  and implementing of suitable standard operating procedures (SOP) for effective and efficient service Delivery;
• Building and maintaining critical mass of champions for the National Land Information Management System (NLIMS) amongst the state and non-state actors; and
• Coordinating research and development, training and capacity building to ensure excellence, sustainability and relevance

For appointment to this grade, a candidate must have: –

• Served for a minimum period of fifteen (15) years, three (3) of which must be in the grade of Deputy Director Lands, CSG 6 and above or in a comparable and relevant position in the wider public service or private sector;
• A Bachelors Degree in any of the following fields; Law, Land Survey, Land Economics, Land Administration, Geography, Urban Management, Environment Planning and Management, Urban and Regional Planning, Social Sciences, Real Estate or Property Studies, Agriculture and Human Ecology Extension, Sociology, Community Development, Urban Planning or Town Planning, Urban Design or equivalent qualifications from a university recognized in Kenya;
• A Masters Degree in any of the following fields; Land Economics, Land Management, Urban Management, Environmental Planning and Management, Urban and Regional Planning, Estate Management, Property Studies, Real  Estate, Project Planning and Management, Environmental Planning and Management, Urban and Regional Planning, Gender and Development, Agriculture and Human Ecology Extension, Urban and Regional Planning ,Urban Planning ,Town Planning Transport and Spatial Planning, Law, Land Economics Land Surveying and Photogrammetry, Geomatics/Geomatic Engineering, Technology in Geomatics (Surveys), Geographic Information System, Hydrography  from a university recognized in Kenya;
• Membership to a relevant professional body;
• Demonstrated a high degree of professional, administrative and managerial competence in work performance necessary for the effective management of the functions of the State Department;
• Ability  to articulate, interpret and implement National and International policies and development goals; and
• Meet the requirement of chapter six (6) of the constitution of Kenya