Most Kenyans who are conned in land-related transactions are swindled by their family members, a report published by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) shows.
The Baseline Study on Land-Related Crimes and Offences in Kenya revealed that family members, specifically those driven by selfish motives, ranked second among the perpetrators of land-related crimes and offenses, accounting for 39.7% of the cases.
According to the report, counties where relative-related land fraud is prevalent include; Meru, Murang'a, Laikipia, Taita Taveta, Elgeyo Marakwet, Migori, Nyamira, Garrisa, and Nakuru.
NCRC's report ranked land brokers first, with data showing that 41.4% of all surveyed individuals reported being swindled by this category of players.
According to the report, various other perpetrators involved in land-buying processes include; neighbors, land-buying companies, the Department of Land, land developers, political leaders, advocates, surveyors, and squatters.
Instructively, the findings of the Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission report, a landmark document on the main issues plaguing land ownership in the country highlighted that public officials were involved in land-related injustices, including forced evictions.
Among perennial land ownership issues listed by the report include; fake title deeds, removal of beacons, trespassing, double allocation, stealing farm produce, and forging land documents among other offenses.
"The least reported land-related crimes and offenses included: discrimination, murder and failing to honor lease terms both at (0.2 per cent), incitement to violence (0.6 per cent), assault/malicious damage and discharging untreated waste/poor drainage at (0.7 per cent) each and finally delayed issuance of title deeds (0.8 per cent)," read part of the report.
In the report, it was discovered that some land cases result due to the lack of a present landlord.
The report recommended that land owners should be sensitised on routine inspections of their land for purposes of ascertaining ownership conditions and boundary beacons.
"The perpetrators are first-born sons and daughters in the family, cartels in land matters, local administrators, members of land boards, police investigators on land fraud issues, and the court's officers, including some politicians," read a statement from the Office of Director of Public Prosecution in Nandi.
