Land cartels on the loose following closure of Ngong land registry

KAJIADO, Kenya, Dec, 3 – Land cartels and brokers have taken over in Kajiado and even resulted to intimidation, following the closure of the Ngong land registry, area residents have decried.

This is amidst an ongoing probe by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on several land fraud complaints following a recent discovery of fake title deeds and stamps.

The ongoing tension has now seen several banks nullify the use of title deeds in the area as collateral due to the increased land conflicts and emergence of fake title deeds.

Officials from the county land ministry meanwhile told Shahidi News that they have continued to receive threats and intimidations from land cartels, in an attempt to frustrate the ongoing investigations.

The EACC detectives had on November 7 raided the Ngong land registry during when they arrested 14 officials.

During the raid, detectives said they recovered alleged fake title deeds, stamps and an unspecified  amount of cash.

The arrests came amidst an outcry from investors and land owners for being defrauded millions of shillings in dubious land deals.

“Land issues are now becoming a thorny issue, threatening the economy of this county,” Kajido land CEC, Hamilton Parseina said.

“The country has put stringent measures to curb the fraud but cartels are still devising ways of defrauding people. ”

The county had earlier accused some officials from Ardhi house of colluding with cartels and interfering with the ongoing investigations by the EACC.

Kajiado county commissioner, Joshua Nkanatha meanwhile told Shahid News that cartels are attempting to jeopardize the case through some judicial officers.

“Surprisingly already some of the 14 suspects have acquired a court order to stop their prosecution even before the cases have commenced,” the County Commissioner said.

The 14 suspects acquired a court order on December 1 from the Ngong law courts ordering the reimbursement of the cash bail deposited, the reopening of the registry and an access to registry offices.

The Kajiado county government has meanwhile kicked off the validation of new generation allotments letters with security features , digitisation of the land registry and land zoning to curb the rampant land conflicts and double allocation of land.