MPS DIRECT MINISTRY OF LANDS TO PRODUCE KICC TITLE DEED OUT OF CONCERN OVER LAND GRABS

Due to concerns about a possible scheme to seize the COMESA grounds, the National Assembly has given the Ministry of Lands one month to provide a title deed for the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). 

The National Land Commission (NLC) and the Nairobi County government have been in communication regarding the redesign and distribution of COMESA grounds to private entities. The Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy, led by MP David Pkosing, views this as suspicious and has ordered this order. 

With fresh attempts to seize the area between Parliament Road, City Hall Way, and the Supreme Court building—commonly referred to as the COMESA grounds—the protracted land dispute rages on.

But in her appearance before the committee, Cabinet Secretary for Lands Alice Wahome tried to reassure lawmakers and Kenyans in general that the land was safe.

Committee members questioned why the dispute had taken so long to resolve and whether there was a conflict of interest between officials in the Lands Ministry, the National Land Commission, and the cartels attempting to seize the land, even as they demanded answers from the ministry.

"There should not be any dispute that you cannot resolve; you should be able to tell us who owns the land and whether it is under the national government or the county government," Laikipia West MP Mwangi Kiunjuri argued. "The Ministry of Lands is the custodian of land records."

The committee was nevertheless reassured by CS Wahome that the land was secure and had not been divided despite the attempts.

"The National Assembly is in charge of the land where KICC is located, and I would like to reassure the committee that it is secure

The remaining area, commonly referred to as the COMESA grounds, is safe, the CS added. "I have not seen any records to show that it has been subdivided. The land is safe."

Wahome begged to be granted a month to provide a thorough response on the steps being taken to obtain the national monument, and she asked for the committee's and Parliament's support in granting the title to KICC.

She refuted Garden Square Limited's assertions that it has a portion of the property, maintaining that even the area where Garden Square Restaurant is located is public land.

"Part of the site we are discussing is Garden Square, which is essentially a toilet by design. Even after applying to become the landowner, ownership is not guaranteed. "I think we're okay, and we need to finish this process. I'll let you know how far we've come," Wahome gave the MPs his assurance.

Committing to give the ministry a month to resolve the matter, committee head Pkosing directed that all ongoing procedures about the land be halted right away.

Come bearing the KICC title, or at the very least, come and demonstrate the procedures to us during the one month the committee has granted you. Bring us the title, please. There can be only one subdivision of the land, not two," he said.

Wahome shot back, saying, "I understand your justified fear, but as the custodian of titles, I am confirming to Kenyans that the land is safe, notwithstanding the correspondences of people who want to claim the land."