The Ministry of Lands is facing serious accusations from Members of Parliament over its suspected role in fraudulent land dealings and its continued failure to resolve long-standing land disputes.
The issue came to light during a tense session on Tuesday, July 22, where lawmakers demanded that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) take over two controversial land cases that have remained unresolved for more than a decade.
The session was led by Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje, who chairs the National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation. He and other MPs expressed deep concern over the Ministry’s failure to act on resolutions that were passed by the 12th Parliament, describing the inaction as unacceptable and a sign of neglect.
The two land disputes in question involve the irregular allocation of land in Mowlem Ward, Nairobi, and the disputed extension of Galana Ranch boundaries in Magarini, Kilifi County—both of which have triggered public outrage and legal battles for years.
During the hearing, David Nyandoro, the Chief Land Registration Officer, tried to distance the Ministry from blame.
He argued that responsibility for resolving these issues lies with agencies such as the National Land Commission (NLC), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
“These are the institutions best suited to give progress updates on these cases,” Nyandoro said in his defense.
However, MPs were not convinced by his explanation. Chairperson Mwenje strongly criticized the Ministry, accusing it of negligence and even complicity in issuing fake title deeds.
Holding up what he claimed were fraudulent documents, Mwenje asked, “Why has your Ministry allowed Kenyans to be conned into buying land using fake title deeds issued by your own staff?”
Kipkelion West MP Hilary Kosgei echoed these concerns, blasting the Ministry’s written report as weak and lacking in substance. He went on to suggest that some Ministry officials may be colluding with external fraudsters, and called for the DCI’s Land Fraud Unit to take over investigations to ensure justice is served.
Following the heated discussions, the committee formally ordered the DCI to take charge of both the Mowlem and Galana Ranch matters and deliver a detailed report to the Committee within 90 days.
In addition, the Committee directed both the Ministry of Lands and the National Land Commission to fully implement previous parliamentary resolutions on the two disputed land cases and also provide their own report within the same three-month timeframe.
Other MPs who attended the session—Lilian Siyoi, Ntutu Kitilai, Memusi Kanchory, and Raphael Wanjala—all backed the call for immediate DCI involvement, noting that public trust in the land registration process had severely eroded due to such fraud.
The situation has once again brought Ardhi House, the Ministry’s Nairobi headquarters, into the spotlight, especially after past incidents involving the suspicious movement and disappearance of land files. Lawmakers warned that unless firm action is taken, the continued manipulation of land records will only deepen public frustration and injustice for rightful landowners.
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