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Closure of land registries has consequences: ISK

Ambani spoke at a time when the United States International University (USIU) is embroiled in a dispute with an investor over a Sh500 million prime land. Photo/FILE.

Ambani spoke at a time when the United States International University (USIU) is embroiled in a dispute with an investor over a Sh500 million prime land. Photo/FILE.

Nairobi, Kenya Jul 26- The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) is warning that the government will lose Sh4 billion annually due to the closure of 13 land registries.

The institution’s council chairman Stephen Ambani told a news conference on Tuesday that half of the amount will be revenue, expected to be raised by Government in the form of stamp duty.

“We are concerned about the haphazard and unilateral manner in which the Lands Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has gone about this process, which in our view is unlikely to achieve the intended objectives” he said.

Ambani said the land information system is an elaborate process which requires wide consultation and planning prior to implementation.

He said it is not a “piecemeal digitization” as it seems to appear and the process is ought to commence after manual records have been cleaned out.

ISK now wants Kaimenyi to suspend the registries countywide until proper arrangements are put in place to ensure transactions are not interrupted as the digitization is being carried out.

“Whereas the intentions of the Cabinet Secretary may be noble, the way he is going about it is all wrong, he should not only consult widely but also have a proper plan” he said.

Ambani said recent cases of double titling of land point to non-adherence to the principles of land registration.

“Such developments cause a lot of discomfort in the sector and it is bound to scare away potential investors in the land and property sector in the country.” He said.

Ambani spoke at a time when the United States International University (USIU) is embroiled in a dispute with an investor over a Sh500 million prime land.

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He said the only way that similar cases can be avoided is to ensure that the “so-long talked about digital National Land Information Systems (NLIMS) is fast tracked.”

“The government should support the ongoing National land information management system to address the issues of double titling,” he said.

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