“You should have seen our old registry. It was the filthiest place I’d ever seen. Even the President didn’t think we’d manage to put things in order in just 10 days,” she says.
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And now that everything is in order, she says the cost of doing business will significantly decrease.
“Land rate clearance will now take two days from 19 days, stamp duty has been taking up to four days, now it will take only one day. Transfer has been taking nine days now it will take up to only two days. Valuation was taking 20 days, it will now take only four days,” she pledges.
Gains she says are well worth rubbing a few shoulders the wrong way, including those of the National Land Commission, when she closed Ardhi House for the 10 working day audit.
“All Kenyans want is service. Wanjiku out there, Mwende out there, Kalekye out there, Wafula, Nafula doesn’t care who the Cabinet Secretary is or who National Land Commission is. What they care for really is service. So let’s now apply ourselves to serving people,” she implores.
And one Patrick Gatonye doesn’t hesitate to tell the Cabinet Secretary what a good job she’s done.
“I have it now,” he says holding up the results of his land search, “And this is all because of you madam. I very much salute you. It has taken me three months to get a copy of search but it has taken this lady here just this morning. I highly salute you.”
Teresia Kariuki who sits nursing a plastic cup of tea out in the tents says she couldn’t agree more.
“We’ve been coming here since 1993; first my mother and now me looking for a file and we’ve always been taken round in circles, been told the file is missing. Now, I’ve not only been received with a cup of tea, they’ve promised to call me within two days with an update,” she says.
And while Stephen Mutisya, a clerk in a law practice, says there’s a definite improvement in the demeanour of the Lands Ministry staff under the watchful eye of Ngilu, he says he hopes the momentum will be maintained:
“Michuki (John) also brought great changes to the matatu sector. Now look at us now. We’re struggling to regain the order he instilled.”
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