City Affairs

Land officials fired for allegedly facilitating land grabbing

Consultative engagement for the Land Laws (Amendment) Bill 2023 with the Departmental Committee on Lands. (Photo:X/AliceWahome)

By Lucy Mumbi | Saturday, February 10, 2024

According to records held by the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, the public cemetery that was grabbed is on public land.

Ministry of Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has fired two Nairobi County land officials for allegedly aiding private investors to grab public land.

Addressing residents in Thika on Friday, Wahome condemned the officers' acts, saying she won't allow such behaviours in her ministry.

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"We have an officer in the Nairobi Land Office who I have fired for aiding in the grabbing of public land. Another one gave some false information to aid in grabbing. This will not be tolerated under my watch," Wahome said.

According to records held by the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, the public cemetery that was grabbed is on public land.

Wahome urged Kenyans to report land fraudsters, reiterating that illegal acquisition of lands must stop.

"Land grabbing must come to an end. We have to stop this menace. Call out any known fraudsters, and I’ll deal with the rest," she said.

Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir who was also present, stated in January that an efficient reporting structure will increase accountability and lower the likelihood of corruption.

Speaking in Naivasha, he said the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning is in the process of establishing a reporting mechanism whereby all heads of departments will report monthly on revenue collection and the number of documents processed at each station.

“We must stop corruption at all costs in the state department. We are working in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to report any form of corruption for action,” Korir said.

He also called on the heads of stations to play their role in enhancing accountability.

The PS said the State Department has undertaken measures to improve working conditions for staff across the country and emphasised that honest, hard-working officers will be rewarded.