Editor's Review

The government printer has informed us that one officer working at the printer has already been arrested - Ministry of Lands.

The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development has responded following reports that 367 title deeds were stolen. 

In a statement on Sunday, September 29, the Ministry said that the documents that were stolen were papers used for printing title deeds. 

"Our attention has been drawn to a gazette notice issued by the government printer on September 26, 2024, regarding 367 security papers that were stolen at the printer. We would like to clarify the following matter. The documents stolen at the government printer are the papers that are used for printing title deeds," reads part of the statement.

The ministry further claimed that for the documents to become title deeds, they must be delivered to the Ministry of Lands, filled in with ownership details, and sealed with the stamp and signature of the Registrar of Lands.

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"The Ministry of Lands relies on the government printer for the provision of the security documents used for printing title deeds. We would like to reassure Kenyans that what was stolen at the government printer were not title deeds but the papers that are used for printing titles. The papers can only become title deeds after they are handed over to the Ministry of Lands, filled with ownership details, and sealed with the stamp and signature of the Registrar after all due processes are followed," adds the statement. 


File Image of Lands CS Alice Wahome.

The ministry claimed that the motive for the theft of the papers was an intention by corrupt cartels to produce fake titles.

The Alice Wahome-led ministry affirmed that it has enhanced its mechanisms for fighting land fraud and one official working with the government printer has already been arrested in relation to the theft.

"The government printer has informed us that one officer working at the printer has already been arrested by the security agencies in relation to the theft. We, therefore, want to assure everyone that the integrity of our titling process is intact and secure," the ministry said.