The Ministry of Lands has recalled crucial records from the National Land Commission (NLC) to “undertake an annual audit”.
Lands Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri, in recalling the files, cited implementation of an Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) recommendation for the ministry “to undertake an annual audit of all land records at the beginning of each year to ascertain the current status of land records in registries”.
The PS had to use threats of raids by the EACC and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ensure the commission surrendered all the records.
“After the expiry of this deadline, a multi-agency team consisting of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will undertake a search in all offices to recover any files not surrendered,” wrote Dr Muraguri in a letter dated July 12.
Insiders at the NLC now say operations at the agency have stalled, following the surrender of the files, which include expired land leases that were pending renewal.
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“All files were recalled by the PS, saying there is an audit that is ongoing. As a result, there is nothing that is happening now at the commission on land administration,” said a senior official at the NLC.
“We are still waiting for the orders to be lifted and files returned. This has affected the renewal of expired leases and other land administration matters.”
Muraguri instructed NLC acting CEO Kabale Tache to forward all the active files. He said the decision to recall the files was in line with ongoing system audit being undertaken by the ministry.
“In order to make this audit process a success, I wish to direct that all correspondence records held by various offices within NLC be returned to our registry by close of business July 22nd,” directed Muraguri.
“Note, the files will be availed again for issuance after the end of the audit on July 31.” The files have however not been returned.
But questions have been raised about the use of the DCI and EACC threats to enforce compliance to the PS’s directive.
“The PS took many files from NLC and the latter was left with little yet its mandate on land matters is wider than that of the ministry. The letter appeared intimidating that the recall of the files was necessary to avoid a raid by EACC and DCI, which was not the case as the multi-agency team is not in the picture,” said an investigating officer privy to the happenings.
According to another official, the two agencies carry out raids on specific cases and the NLC claim is not under any probe.
Tache, however, denied knowledge of the letter. “I am not aware of the letter and the directive therein. Please get the comments from the PS.”
Efforts to get a comment from the PS proved futile, as he failed to answer his calls.
