Surveyors oppose ban of land dealings

By ALLY JAMAH

NAIROBI, KENYA: Calls are mounting on county governments to lift a ban on land and property transactions within their jurisdictions, with experts warning the move is affecting the economy.

The Institute of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) is the latest professional body that has came out strongly against the move by some counties including Kiambu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Kajiado to halt the transactions as they sort out the mess in their land records and master plans.

Monday, ISK’s Chairman Collins K’Owuor said the ban that has been in place for several months has left crucial multi-million shilling deals in limbo.

The counties have taken the drastic move to address alleged irregularities in land planning and use, but the experts insist that sorting out those issues is taking too long. “While these concerns could be valid, the moratorium has taken too long. In addition, these problems can only be solved while transactions are going on,” he said.

Mr K’Owuor said the suspension of land deals is delaying the construction of new housing units and making it impossible for property owners to use land as collateral or even sell their property. He added it is also diminishing revenues for both the national and county governments.

Last August, Kajiado County Assembly passed a Motion to suspend all land transactions after the graft body rated the county as leading in frauds. Kiambu County froze change of land user deals to check the rapid change of coffee and tea plantations into upmarket gated community housing projects.