The Ministry of Lands has announced plans to reconstruct land registers for properties in Nairobi and Nakuru after official records for some parcels were reportedly lost.
The affected titles include land belonging to Maendeleo Ya Wanawake in Nakuru Municipality and Riverside Mansions (Management) Limited in Nairobi.
According to notices published in the Kenya Gazette, sufficient evidence has been presented to show that the registers for the two properties cannot be traced. The ministry now intends to reconstruct the records under Section 33(5) of the Land Registration Act unless objections are raised within 60 days.
The Nakuru parcel in question, known as Nakuru Municipality Block 21/469, measures approximately 0.52 hectares and is registered under Maendeleo Ya Wanawake.
The Nairobi property, listed as L.R. No. 991/17, is registered under Riverside Mansions (Management) Limited by virtue of a certificate of title issued earlier.
"Whereas Riverside Mansions (Management) Limited, of P.O. Box 3887-00200, Nairobi in the Republic of Kenya, is registered as proprietor of all that parcel of land, known as L.R. No. 991/17, situated in the city of Nairobi in the Nairobi Area, by virtue of a certificate of title, registered as I.R. 49827/1, and whereas sufficient evidence has been adduced to show that the said land register issued thereof has been lost, notice is given that after the expiration of sixty (60) days from the date hereof, the property register shall be reconstructed under provisions of section 33 (5) of the Act provided that no objection has been received within that period," read part of the notice.
''Whereas Maendeleo Ya Wanawake is registered as the proprietor of all that piece of land, containing 0.5200 hectares or thereabouts, known as Nakuru Municipality Block 21/469, situated in the district Nakuru, and whereas sufficient evidence has been adduced to show that the said land register issued thereof has been lost, notice is given that after the expiration of sixty (60) days from the date hereof, I intend to proceed with the reconstruction of the land register under section 33(5) of the Act, provided that no objection has been received within that period.''
According to the notice, once the 60-day notice period lapses without objections, the property registers will be reconstructed and reinstated in the official land records. This process is meant to restore legal documentation and ensure continued recognition of the registered proprietors.
However, the announcement could likely raise eyebrows given the persistent challenges of fraud and double allocation of land in Kenya.
Cases have previously emerged where the loss or disappearance of official records was exploited by cartels to alter ownership details or unlawfully transfer prime land.
The issue comes at a time when the government is implementing land digitisation reforms aimed at eliminating manual records that have long been vulnerable to tampering, misplacement, or deliberate destruction.
The ministry has previously said digitisation will help in curbing fraudulent activities in land transactions.
