Lands official downplays National Land Commission leases blame

By ALLY JAMAH

NAIROBI, KENYA: The embattled Ministry of Lands has downplayed the simmering conflict with the National Land Commission over the renewal of thousands of expired leases across the country, including those of prime lands in Nairobi’s Central Business District.

This comes as uncertainty is building among owners of the lands whose leases have expired, with some wondering whether they will have their leases renewed or their land will be taken over by the State.

A top NLC official issued a scathing attack accusing Ministry of Lands officials of frustrating the full transfer of the function of renewing expired leases in order to extort millions of shillings from desperate leaseholders.

The ministry’s Principal Secretary Mariam El-Maawy told journalists that nothing is amiss in the process and that individuals who hold the expired leases will have the first priority when it comes to renewal of the leases provided they meet the set conditions.

“Nobody should fear about the expired leases. So long as you have a current lease, even if it is expired, you are the first person who will receive the priority in the renewal unless you are unable to meet the conditions of the lease,” she said.

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