Rogue lands officials accused of creating delays to extort bribes
Operations at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Physical Planning headquarters at Ardhi House have come under renewed scrutiny amid claims that inefficiencies are being deliberately engineered to solicit bribes from members of the public.
Service seekers at the facility allege that some rogue officials operating under the Ardhi Sasa platform are undermining the digitised system by slowing down processes, forcing applicants to endure long queues before offering to fast-track services at a fee.
Despite the platform’s promise to streamline land transactions and reduce human interaction, the situation on the ground appears largely manual.
Staff were observed using handwritten lists and exercise books to manage queues, while applicants clutched small numbered pieces of paper as they waited to be attended to.
The congestion has turned the first-floor waiting area into a crowded and uncomfortable space, with poor ventilation compounding the frustration of those seeking services. Many are forced to stand for hours as the backlog grows.
“It defeats the purpose of an online system if we still have to queue like this,” said one applicant who had spent nearly the entire morning waiting for assistance.
The allegations raise fresh concerns about the integrity of reforms in the lands sector, with questions emerging over whether inefficiencies are being exploited to perpetuate corruption.
Service seekers now want the anti-graft body, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to stump out the rot.
