CS Jacob Kaimenyi issues 20,000 title deeds in Migori

Lands Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has issued titled deeds to 20,000 residents of Nyatike, Migori County.

The residents who have been living as squatters since independence heaved a sigh of relief after receiving the vital documents.

Kaimenyi expressed concern that the national government had processed more than 41,180 tittle deeds since Jubilee came to power, but only 38 per cent had been collected over the years. He urged all Kenyans to collect their title deeds.

"In Western and Nyanza, when we visited the ground, we found out that parents fear taking title deeds for fear of being killed by their children," he said.

He gave shocking statistics that more than 83 per cent of public schools land in Kenya had been grabbed.

The CS added that the Government had waived title deeds processing and survey fees, making it easier for individuals to acquire titles.

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He expressed shock that some individuals have grabbed land meant for schools and police stations in the county.

Kaimenyi said 55 per cent of public institutions including Government facilities are not fenced in the county.

He said the ministry will collaborate with the county government to bring services closer to the people.

He said the Government was on a mission to educate the people on the Land Amendment Bill, 2016, saying the Community Lands Act has redefined the term in a geographical perspective.

"Anyone who has lived in a certain ecological or geographical area belongs to that community and is entitled to community land," Kaimenyi explained.

He added that with the new laws, one requires the consent of two-thirds of a community before he can sell or buy community land thus making it tough for grabbers and illegal acquisition of land.

"We have spent over Sh4.5 million in fast-tracking the issuance of title deeds in Nyatike," he said.