Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has made a strong commitment to lead a comprehensive campaign to recover unlawfully acquired public lands across Kenya, stressing her Ministry’s zero-tolerance policy towards illegal land encroachments and fraudulent ownership. This declaration comes as part of ongoing efforts to tackle land grabbing, particularly of parcels belonging to schools in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Speaking during her visit to the Thika Land Registry in Kiambu County, Wahome emphasized that the Ministry of Lands is in the process of compiling detailed records of all public lands that have been fraudulently acquired. The Ministry’s recovery efforts will prioritize land that belongs to public institutions, with a focus on addressing issues affecting schools, some of which have been victims of encroachment.
Wahome pointed out that several school heads have reported the illegal occupation of their land, underscoring the urgency of the matter. In particular, she highlighted the case of Nyali Secondary School, which has had its land taken away, with individuals illegally constructing buildings on the property. She assured the public that the Ministry would take swift action to recover the land, vowing to visit Mombasa to reclaim Nyali Secondary School’s property. Additionally, she disclosed that the Ministry is working on documentation to recover land belonging to Lavington Primary School in Nairobi.
The CS also sent a stern warning to those holding fraudulent land titles, urging them to voluntarily surrender the documents or face legal consequences. “To those people holding titles for Nyali Secondary land, listen to me. I am coming to Mombasa to recover the land belonging to Nyali school,” she said, reinforcing her stance on land justice.
Wahome encouraged the public to assist in the recovery process by taking action in reclaiming public land, particularly by challenging fraudulent land ownership. She also emphasized the importance of school heads directly engaging her office to resolve land disputes, rather than relying solely on the Land Registries.
In an effort to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in land transactions, Wahome also revealed that the Ministry is making strides in the digitization of land records. This initiative aims to close loopholes within the Lands Ministry and improve the management of land-related disputes. Through digitization, the Ministry seeks to provide more reliable online services, such as land searches, title deed updates, and the transfer process, to curb illegal land activities.
Wahome’s pledge to reclaim public land is part of a broader strategy to safeguard the country’s resources and ensure that public institutions benefit from their rightful property.
