The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) has raised concern over increased cases of land grabbing in the country.
"The level of impunity we are observing clearly demonstrates the existence of powerful cartels working with corrupt land officials at the Lands ministry. It is unfortunate that this issue has not been addressed by successive regimes and shall continue to wreak havoc unless it is urgently resolved," said Steve Ambani, chairman of ISK.
The surveyors condemned officials at the Lands ministry and National Lands Commission (NLC) for being reactive.
"This is giving a bad image to a lot of good-mannered professionals in the sector. We are investigating our members and if we establish that some of us collude with cartels in grabbing land, we will discipline them and make known their names to the public," said ISK Chief Executive Officer Moses Kiambuthi.
He added: "It is regrettable that the institutions, being custodians of land records, cannot solve ownership of land. We cannot be asking land owners to prove ownership whereas it is their mandate to tell Kenyans who owns which land."
They termed the rampant land grabbing as unfortunate as it is happening with full knowledge of the authorities and despite spirited efforts to put in place a legal and institutional framework.
The officials noted most cases of land grabbing are to do with prime pieces of land whose leases have either expired and the owners have not renewed them or those about to expire and the owners have not initiated the process of renewal.
"In most cases, the owners of these pieces of land are not aware of when the land leases shall expire or better still, are discouraged by cases of missing files," Ambani said.
He added that the investors are now reluctant to invest in land and this is detrimental to the economy.
Ambani pointed out that the recent petition to the National Assembly by counties demonstrates the length to which governors and land brokers are willing to go to achieve their selfish interests.
The surveyors noted if the governors' scheme succeeds, the economy will suffer seriously given that multinationals produce some of the leading exports.
They also cautioned politicians to stop introducing the land question as a campaign agenda for political mileage.
The surveyors want Government institutions involved in land to take responsibility for the mess in the land sector.
"NLC, as required under the law, should notify all land owners whose leases have expired for renewal and Lands ministry to release all land files in their custody," Ambani said.
The surveyors called on prospective land owners to involve professionals and carry out due diligence before buying land.
