Nyayo and Harambee House among state-owned lands with missing title deeds
Nyayo and Harambee House among state-owned lands with missing title deeds
The Auditor General revealed shocking gaps in government land records, with key state properties, including Nyayo House and Harambee House, missing from the official land register.
In the audit report for government ministries and state corporations for the financial year 2023/2024, the Auditor General highlighted a lack of title deeds for thousands of state-owned parcels of land, raising concerns over the security and management of public assets.
According to the audit findings, the State Department owns approximately 4,151 parcels of land across the country.
However, a review of the land register provided for audit found that no title deeds were available for many of these properties.
“Review of land register provided for audit revealed that the State Department owned four thousand one hundred and fifty-one (4,151) parcels of land in various parts of the Country. Although Management indicated that it was in the process of acquiring the ownership documents, no evidence was provided on the progress made and title deeds for the parcels of land were not provided for audit,” read the audit report in part.
Furthermore, the audit uncovered that many state-owned lands lacked proper survey plans, making it difficult to define their exact boundaries. This raises the risk of encroachment, land grabbing, and legal disputes over ownership.
The situation is even more alarming as the land parcels on which Nyayo House and Harambee House stand, two of Kenya’s most significant government buildings, could not be traced in the land register.
“In addition, the land register provided for audit was incomplete and most of the required information in the register were blank. Further, parcels of land on which Nyayo House and Harambee House buildings stand could not be traced in the register,” the audit report added.
Harambee House was built in 1961, and it currently hosts the Office of the President and other government offices.
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The Auditor General’s report also noted that the government did not have an effective control system to safeguard the State Department’s land.
Such gaps in record-keeping expose government properties to the risk of illegal occupation or fraudulent acquisition. Discrepancies in revenue statements In other news, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu raised concerns over discrepancies in revenue statements for various government agencies in the year ended June 2024.
Her report highlighted inconsistencies in revenue collections and receipts, particularly on the eCitizen platform, where millions of shillings remain unaccounted for.
Key agencies flagged include the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Lands, and the Department of Immigration, among others, with variances between revenue statements, ledger balances, and the e-portal system.
The findings suggest possible revenue leaks as the government continues its transition to digital payments, raising concerns over financial accountability and transparency.
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