Fake surveyors in Kisii put on notice

Land survey scams have become prevalent in Kisii. [iStockphoto]

Kisii Land Registrar has put on notice unlicenced land surveyors following an outcry from land buyers in the area.

The Kisii Lands office says there are several fake title deeds in the hands of innocent land buyers that have already been nullified by his officers.

On Friday, a retired government officer who has been operating in the town as a surveyor was arrested by detectives and taken in for further investigation.

The suspect is said to have surveyed land parcels that cost buyers millions of shillings. However, he is said to have processed and issued fake land titles.

One of the victims was conned more than Sh 500,000 for the survey on at least eight parcels he had bought within Kisii County.

The private developer bought a parcel of land and put up an 18-unit house, land which he knows is not registered.

"I trusted the said individual to carry out a survey and process proper land documents for me and some of my family members. He gave me fake documents which I have been trying to correct since 2018."

He said the said surveyor has been dodging him for the last year forcing him to move to the Kisii Land Registrar's office to authenticate his documents.

At the office, shock awaited him. All the title deeds he was fraudulently registered.

According to the Land Registrar Charles Ayienda, land buyers should seek advice from relevant Government offices.

"People are going into depression for investing millions of money to buy non-existing land parcels. We have advised those with similar issues on what to do; the procedure is clear."

Ayienda explained that some of the accused surveyors and not registered while others worked with the government before they retired.

"We have notorious surveyors who have continued to conduct illegal business for years. Some private developers pay fees for surveys but never visit land offices for verification. Those are the people who have been sold non-existing parcels."

Ayienda said authorities must hound out quacks masquerading as authorities in surveying.

Kisii continues to record several land cases at the Land and Environment court. This is despite sensitisation by the Ministry of Land to the public to always carry due diligence before entering into a land-buying agreement.

Records with the Ministry of Lands indicate that Kenya's economy loses an estimated Sh30 billion annually due to land fraud facilitated by corrupt and quack surveyors.

The amount includes what the government loses in land rates, expenses in costly court cases and investment opportunities lost when the disputed land lies idle.