On Thursday, February 29, the National Assembly's Public Investments Committee directed Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to produce the title deed of the land where the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) stands.
Chaired by Pokot South Member of Parliament David Pkosing', the Committee instructed the Lands Ministry and the National Lands Commission to furnish the title deed within 30 days.
Wahome, who appeared before the parliamentary committee alongside tourism counterpart Alfred Mutua, clarified that the KICC land was not grabbed.
However, Tourism CS Alfred Mutua, also present at the committee, dismissed plans by private entities to claim the land where the national monument is situated.
While addressing the matter, CS Alice Wahome vowed to rectify the issue regarding the KICC title deed, assuring that it would soon be resolved.
"We are in agreement that this is public land. What we are not in agreement on, for now, is any personal interest hindering progress. The fact remains that it is public land, so any issue of personal interest does not and will not deter me," noted the Land CS.
"I assure the committee that the remaining land, popularly known as COMESA ground, is secure. I have not seen any records to show that it has been subdivided. The land is safe," she added.
On February 14, the National Assembly lands committee highlighted that the ownership of KICC and its surrounding land space was a matter of national security and required urgent resolution.
Consequently, the committee summoned the National Lands Commission (NLC) CEO and the Lands CS to appear before the committee on Thursday, February 22.
According to the committee, the Nairobi County Government was claiming ownership of the land hosting the Garden Square Restaurant adjacent to Harambee House.
MP Pkosing emphasized that this was a serious concern, as KICC stood to incur significant losses in assets if the two parcels were not placed under the Convention's ownership.
The ownership of the Ksh2.2 billion parcel of land where the tower stands sparked debate in July 2021 after the Auditor General's report revealed that the land was not registered under the State's name.
