President Uhuru Kenyatta issues a Title Deed to a resident of Mombasa County on Aug 30. Photo/ PSCU
NAIROBI Kenya, Sep 16 – The National Lands Commission has been challenged to hasten the procedures necessary for one to acquire a title deed.
The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya chairman, Collins Kowuor says the process taken for one to acquire a title deed is long and unacceptable.
Addressing the media on Monday, Kowuor noted that land cannot be used as a means of development without proper documents of ownership.
“Title documents are tools for development, most families will not feel secure without them; they will not even develop their land,” he noted.
Kowuor says that land owners should be given their title deeds in the shortest time possible to solve issues of land among the many residents of the country.
He added that, “our constitution in article 60 provides a clear way of how land can be used.”
Article 60 of the constitution says land shall be held, used and managed in a manner that is equitable, efficient, productive and sustainable.
In regard to the article, the institution says one cannot have an access to land without the proper identification documents.
While they welcomed the move to issue title deeds in the coastal region by President Uhuru Kenyatta, they said that, “what is causing the delay should be addressed.”
We should not argue on who should serve food to hungry children instead we should serve them
Kowuor also urged the Lands Commission to speed up the implementation of the new land regulations under the new constitution, in the issuance of title deeds.
Kenyans who received their title deeds have also been urged not to rush in selling their pieces of land. “Don’t move so fast to sell it; you can lease your land if you are not using it.”
They have also pleaded to the land commission to ensure existing title documents are released to the public, “so that they can enjoy the fruits of owning land and property.”
“The Lands Ministry and the National Land Commission should work together because their mandate is clear in the legislation and if they can work together, Kenyans are going to have service delivery,” Kowuor stated.
“We do not want turf wars. We should not argue on who should serve food to hungry children instead we should serve them. If we keep on asking that, the children will die of hunger.”
The Government programme to resolve the longstanding land problem in the country, kicked off with President Kenyatta issuing 60,000 title deeds in the Coast region.
He said the issuance of the land ownership documents was fulfilment of a promise he made during the March General Election to Coast residents that he would resolve the land problem in the region.
“We said the land question in Kenya is an issue that has been there for over 50 years and we pledged that if we won the elections, we would end the land question and bring the land answer,” he said.
Kenyatta has vowed to resolve the land problem in the country during his tenure as President.
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