Rédaction Africa Links 24 with IRENE MWANGI
Published on 2024-02-29 15:21:20
Members of Parliament in Kenya have directed the Ministry of Lands to provide them with the title deeds for the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) following suspicions of a potential land grab. The Public Investments Commercial Affairs and Energy committee issued a one-month ultimatum to the Cabinet Secretary for Lands after an Auditor General Report revealed that the National Government was not the owner of the land.
Letter correspondences between the National Land Commission and Nairobi County exposed a plan to redesign and allocate COMESA grounds, part of KICC’s land, to private entities. This raised concerns about possible collusion between officials in the Ministry of Land, National Land Commission, and cartels to grab the parcel of land.
Land Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome appeared before the committee to address these concerns and assured them that there was no dispute over the land and that the remaining land known as COMESA ground was secure. She also emphasized that the government is taking steps to secure historical public land amid attempts by cartels to grab land belonging to Garden Square Limited.
The lawmakers questioned how the National Land Commission concluded that the land was vested in the county government rather than the national government. They also inquired about KICC only holding the title for the tower and not for other parts of the property. Committee Chair David Pkosing issued an order halting any activities related to the land in question for a month until the Ministry of Lands submits the title deed.
It was revealed that NLC had written to the county government as the vesting authority for the land where Garden Square restaurant and Comesa parking lot are located, giving the county government the power to decide on land allocations.
KICC falls under the national government’s jurisdiction, and it is important to clarify the ownership and boundaries of the land to prevent any unauthorized activities or land grabs. The Ministry of Lands has been tasked with providing the necessary documentation to clarify the status of the land and ensure its protection.
In conclusion, the directive by Members of Parliament underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in land ownership and management to prevent unauthorized individuals or entities from taking advantage of public resources. It is crucial to safeguard public assets such as the KICC and COMESA grounds to preserve their historical and cultural significance for future generations.
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