Officials shut Laikipia lands registry, post new registrar

Operations at Laikipia Lands Registry in Nanyuki town ground to a halt early this week after senior land officials raided the office and changed locks following massive corruption claims.

The senior land officials who travelled from Ardhi House in Nairobi, visited the offices incognito at around 11am and ordered the locks to the registrar’s office be broken before conducting a surprise search.

The officials then ordered replacement of the locks and left with the keys.

On Wednesday morning, Ms Pamela Makena, the new registrar, reported to the office from the Thika land registry.

Tens of landowners and people seeking to transact land business flocked the office to seek services.

Many complained of massive rot in the offices, which they claimed had been taken over by land brokers, secretaries to various lawyers operating in the town and land surveyors.