NLC, Kajiado county moot strategy to curb land fraud
By Larry Lesian
Thousands of plot owners in Kajiado satellite towns and urban centers are set to receive new lease title deeds in a move aimed at curbing rampant land fraud that have rocked the region.
The county boasts of 36,800plots in the respective 37 towns and urban centers.
However, fast growing towns of Kitengela, Ngong, Kiserian, Isinya, Namanga and Oloitoktok have registered unending wrangles delayed development in the disputed properties.
Double allocation of the plots and re-allocation following failure to develop within the given two years grace period has worsened the wrangles.
In 2021, the judiciary launched a special unit in the Kajiado law courts termed the Alternative Justice System to address land cases that had turned overwhelming to the courts.
Traditional and reconciliation methods spearheaded by elders and judges are said to have borne results resolving the majority of the cases.
The National Land Commission, National Survey and of Kenya in conjunction with the County government of Kajiado ministry of lands and Physical Planning now says to help address the fraud, there will be no issuance of allotment letters to plot owners.
Speaking during the first phase of issuance of 8,000lease titles at Kajiado, NLC Ceo Kabale Tache said the move is a milestone that aims at bringing sanity to the ‘chaotic’ land matters.
“Land is an emotive issue and as the commission, we have been very keen to liaise with all relevant stakeholders to address conflicts. We have recovered 29 public land utilities that had been grabbed, “said Tache.
The process of the lease title deeds commenced in 2022 with three private consultant firms mandated to spearhead the process.
Governor Joseph Ole Lenku says the move will ease the burden of land conflicts and facilitate faster development of towns.
“We have been grappling with slow development and rates in our urban centers and satellite towns due to plot ownership wrangles. AJS has played a key role in fast tracking resolution. The lease title deeds have security issues features that will curb fraud. The allotment letters were easily tampered with, “said Lenku.
County executive and committee member in charge of Lands and Physical Planning Hamilton Parseina said at least 22,000 plots are not disputed and the processing of the title deeds are underway.
Beneficiaries of the title deeds laud the move saying it will enable them to develop their property.
“With my new title I can now borrow a loan and develop my plot. It had been years of waiting for a resolution of a dispute that had arisen from alleged double allocation. The document is now more secure and meaningful than a letter of allotment,” said Peninah Parsimei, a beneficiary.
The second phase of the issuance of the title deeds is set to be in January 2026.
