National Land Commission begins review of titles and grants

The National Land Commission has started scanning documents of all public land to ascertain their legality.

This follows protests triggered by an Executive order to revoke some grants and title deeds.

Some huge parcels of land in Lamu fall in areas where the Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor is expected to be constructed.

Early this month, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered that the titles of 500,000 acres alleged to have been acquired through dubious means be revoked and the land reverted to the community.

All the 22 parcels mentioned in the presidential directive, and which are within the Lapsset route in Lamu, have been listed among those to be reviewed by the NLC.

They are now under police investigations. NLC chairman Muhammad Swazuri said that the commission would not interfere with the work of other government agencies.

“Our concern is reviewing titles and the owners will be required to tell us how they acquired the land.

“Some landowners are companies and others are individuals. They can either send their representatives or written submissions to us,” Dr Swazuri said.

In a public notice appearing in a section of the media, he said the commission had received complaints.

ESTABLISH THE LEGALITY

The Constitution mandates the commission to establish the legality of the land in question.

In the notice signed by Dr Swazuri, 69 properties have been listed for assessment. The review, he said, started yesterday in Kakamega, Nakuru and Nairobi.

It is expected to run until October 3 and will hear complaints from all quarters, including disputes involving public institutions such as schools, polytechnics, health facilities as well as individuals.