1,000 title deeds revoked in war on land cartels
What you need to know:
- The cartels target properties with expired leases, idle land and or property belonging to foreigners who are old, terminally ill or dead.
- The Sunday Nation has learnt that cases of land fraud have been on the rise, with eight to nine reported every day.
The National Land Commission (NLC) says it has revoked 1,000 title deeds in an effort to break up cartels in the land sector.
NLC chairman Mohammed Swazuri said the commission had set up an investigation and forensic unit under the Directorate of Legal and Enforcement following the upsurge in cases of land fraud associated with the cartels.
“Their job is to look at the paperwork and establish who the genuine land owners are. The remedy is provided for in law, but where we believe that fraud has been committed, we revoke the titles,” he said.
The Sunday Nation also learnt that cases of land fraud have been on the rise, with eight to nine reported every day.
Mr Swazuri said the commission will soon shame land-grabbers by publishing their names and their revoked titles in the newspapers.
“We have been doing the revocation quietly, but this time we will advertise the revoked titles in the newspapers for all to see. This will be a deterrent measure,” said Mr Swazuri.
Last week, Sunday Nation investigations established that the cartels target properties with expired leases, idle land and or property belonging to foreigners who are old, terminally ill or dead.
The cartels that include lawyers, government officials, police officers and politicians operate in county government headquarters and the ministry of Land.
Mr Swazuri cautioned prospective land buyers to counter-check the records before entering into any transaction. “Before you purchase land, first certify that it is clean,” he cautioned.
