House team tasked to probe disappearance of 367 title deed printing papers

A parliamentary committee has been tasked with investigating the theft of 367 security papers used for printing title deeds.

The inquiry comes after the mysterious disappearance of these critical documents last month.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi directed the Lands Committee to probe the matter following a petition from Machakos Senator Kavindu Muthama.

In her petition, Muthama has requested that officials from the Ministry of Lands and the management of the Government Printer be summoned to clarify the actions being taken to recover the stolen security papers.

After the security papers were stolen, the Ministry of Lands clarified that the stolen documents were not actual title deeds but rather the printing papers required to create them.

The Ministry said the stolen papers can only be transformed into title deeds once they are processed through the Ministry of Lands, completed with ownership details, and sealed with the Registrar's stamp and signature.

It indicated that the theft was likely motivated by corruption cartels seeking to produce fraudulent titles.

“The Ministry of Lands relies on the Government Printer for the provision of the security documents used for printing Title Deeds. We would like to reassure Kenyans that what was stolen at the Government Printer are not title deeds but the papers that are used for printing titles. The papers can only become title deeds after they are handed over to the Ministry of Lands, filled with ownership details and sealed with the stamp and signature of the Registrar after all due processes are followed,” reads the statement.

Threat

But in her petition, Muthama, emphasised the gravity of the situation, noting that the incident poses a significant threat to the integrity of land ownership documents in the country.

“The committee should present a progress report on the investigation concerning the theft of the said documents,” Muthama said.

She urged the committee to identify the individuals and land cartels involved in the theft while implementing measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Muthama stressed the need for immediate action, saying, “The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development must take immediate and decisive action to address this critical issue.”

As part of the inquiry, the committee will evaluate the measures taken by the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning to raise public awareness about the risks associated with land fraud and the importance of verifying the authenticity of title deeds and other related documents.

“Appraise the Senate on the Ministry’s long-term plans to leverage modern technology while implementing protocols to protect paper title deeds from damage, loss, or theft,” reads the petition.

The inquiry aims to enhance security protocols at the Government Printer and other relevant institutions to safeguard against future thefts.