CS Alice Wahome Revokes Title Deed Issued to Nairobi Firm to Build Mall

Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has vowed to cancel a title deed issued on a firm currently building a mall on land that belongs to the public. 

Appearing before the Senate, CS Wahome noted that the plot where Tom Mboya Social Hall sits was irregularly allocated to a private developer in Nairobi.

She owned up to the mistake, indicating that the title issued to the private firm would be revoked and reversed to the public.

"I want to confirm standing on this floor that Gami Properties Limited got an irregular allocation and I would proceed to cancel that title," she stated.

"My office obviously misbehaved by allowing this. But that was done jointly with the National Lands Commission. We will work together using section 79 of the Land Legislation Act," she added.

This was after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna asked the CS to explain real ownership of the land. 

"Who holds the title deed for the parcel of land on which the Tom Mboya Social Hall in Makadara Constituency in Nairobi City County stands, and could the Cabinet Secretary indicate the ownership history of the said parcel of land?" Sifuna asked.

"Could the Cabinet Secretary explain the circumstances under which the parcel of land came into the custody of a private developer, who has already commenced construction works?" he added.

In response, the CS explained that the plot where Tom Mboya Social Hall sits was reserved for the Ministry of Public Works for the development of a community hall in June 1957. The plot was leased to KANU for three years, from 1967 on condition that the party pays rent and the land remains government land. 

KANU then applied for the allocation of the plot in 1985, a letter of allotment was issued in favour of the party on 12th April 1985 for a term of 99 years with effect from March 1985. The user of the plot was Social Hall still and offices, she added.

"Thereafter, KENU did not pay the statutory fees indicted in the allotment letter of 10th of April, 2018. The offer had since lapsed. The parcel having been registered as a Social Hall should remain as such."

Following the response, Sifuna applauded the CS for acting to reverse the land for public use.

"I am more than happy that she is going to cancel the title deed," Sifuna responded.