Syokimau land owned by Airports authority, says PS

The land where posh houses worth millions of shillings were brought down at Syokimau in Nairobi belongs to the Kenya Airports Authority, the government stated on Monday.

Lands permanent secretary Dorothy Angote said she believed it was public land, and challenged those whose houses were demolished to produce title deeds to prove ownership.

Speaking to Nation by phone, Ms Angote said her ministry had received information that some of the developers had share certificates given to them by fraudsters.

Share certificates

“The Ministry of Lands gives title deeds and not shares certificates. The share certificates show it was a deal between private individuals and buyers. I don’t know to what extent owners of land could start huge investments without verifying the documents,” Ms Angote said.

She said even allotment letters could not be taken as title deeds, and that the ministry had not looked into the Syokimau land deals as it had not received any complaints. The matter, she added, was also still in court.

Shun brokers

“If a developer has title then he is safe unless he has taken somebody’s land. This matter needs to be investigated. We couldn’t have acted without receiving any complaints... I have not seen a complaint in my office as I speak,” Ms Angote said.

She said any land cartels swindling Kenyans should be immediately reported to her ministry.

She said Kenyans should shun brokers who lure them into deals.

“If you have Sh30 million, why should you deal with a cartel?” Ms Angote asked.