DCI Kinoti Deploys Special Team to Go After Land Cartels

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti addresses the media on Thursday, March 5, 2020.
Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti addresses the media on Thursday, March 5, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) George Kinoti has unveiled a specially trained team aimed at fighting cartels who have infiltrated the Ministry of Lands.

While speaking during the unveil, Kinoti disclosed that the 26 new detectives would join the Land Fraud Investigations Unit in an exercise that is part of reforms in the embattled ministry.

The officers are well trained with a background experience in land survey, land economics, land physical planning and administration among other relevant fields.

He further noted that the new team was unveiled to aid the unit in professionally handling complex land grabbing cases.

Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters along Kiambu Road
Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters along Kiambu Road
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

“The Director DCI has sanctioned far reaching reforms in the Land Fraud Investigations Unit.

"In part of the changes made made Tuesday, a total of 26 detectives with professional background in land survey, land economics, land physical planning and administration among other relevant fields have been deployed in the unit,” he stated.

Kinoti further noted that a strict vetting process had been applied to all the successful applicants before they were approved.

“They will enhance the unit’s capacity to investigate land cases expeditiously and advice on the appropriate legal action to be taken,” he added.

The development comes ahead of a planned roll out of the new lands digital migration program that will see many title deeds cancelled.

The deeds will then be replaced by fresh ones that comply with the lands Registration Act, 2012.

According to a press release from Lands CS Farida Karoney, the Land Registration Act 2012 would solve the confusion occasioned by the different laws that had become a breeding ground for fraud among other issues.

The Ministry of Lands has for years been rocked by the cartel projects in which many Kenyans have lost their parcels. Some political leaders have also been linked to land-grabbing incidents.

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Ardhi House, Lands Ministry headquarters in Nairobi
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