The Auditor-General has revealed that the title deeds for Harambee House and Nyayo House are missing from the lands registry. Harambee House is the official office of the President, while Nyayo House houses the Immigration Department.
The fact that these two key government buildings have no records raises serious concerns about ownership and the government’s ability to protect its assets.
The missing documents mean the government lacks legal proof that these properties belong to the state. Without title deeds, the properties are vulnerable to disputes or even land grabbing, as there is no official documentation to confirm state ownership.
Efforts to trace these parcels in the land registry have been unsuccessful, and the register provided for audit was incomplete. Many required details were missing, making it difficult to establish ownership.
This raises questions about how the government manages public properties and whether there is deliberate negligence or corruption involved. The Auditor-General’s report also revealed that the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration owns over 4,000 parcels of land across the country but has failed to provide ownership documents for them.
Despite claims that efforts are being made to acquire these documents, no concrete progress has been shown.This issue is not new. For years, many government properties have lacked proper documentation. For example, the National Police Service operated without a title deed for its headquarters, Vigilance House, for more than 60 years before finally obtaining the document.
Additionally, over 80 percent of police stations across the country lack title deeds. This makes them vulnerable to land disputes, encroachment, and possible takeovers by private individuals or companies.
If such an important institution as the police force struggled to secure ownership documents, it is clear that the entire land management system in Kenya has major flaws.The missing title deeds for Harambee House and Nyayo House highlight a deeper problem within the Lands Ministry, which has been plagued by corruption and inefficiency for years.
Poor record-keeping and the loss of important government documents indicate that the state is failing to safeguard its own assets. If the government cannot secure its properties, it is unlikely to protect the rights of ordinary citizens who face similar challenges with land ownership.
Many Kenyans struggle with missing or fraudulent title deeds, and the situation with these government buildings suggests that the problem is widespread.The government needs to take urgent action to recover and properly document all its properties.
There should be a transparent and efficient system to ensure that all state assets have legal ownership records. Strict accountability measures should be put in place to prevent such losses from happening again. Those responsible for maintaining these records must be held accountable for their failure to protect public property.
If no action is taken, this issue could set a dangerous precedent where even the most important government properties are at risk of being lost or misappropriated. The missing title deeds for Harambee House and Nyayo House should serve as a wake-up call for the government to reform its management of public land and ensure that all national assets are properly secured for the future.
