The Kiambu government, the Lands ministry and the National Land Commission have started issuance of 50,000 title deeds to residents living in informal settlements.
Some informal settlements set to benefit from the programme include Umoja, Kiandutu, Madgarau, Gachagi, Kanjeru, Kiang’ombe, Kiamburi, Misri, Fort Jesus and Bosnia. The programme is being implemented under the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Program (KISIP).
Governor James Nyoro said the move is aimed at improving their living conditions and strengthening the security of tenure of their land parcels.
He said it will also bring an end to protracted land disputes in the settlements.
The county chief spoke at Umoja slums in Thika subcounty on Tuesday while issuing 70 block title deeds to 1,750 residents.
He was accompanied by his running mate June Waweru, Kiambu Lands executive Eunice Macharia, chief officer Edmund Njihia, director housing Julius Mwololo, Survey and Geo Informatics deputy director Isaac Gitau, and Housing department officers Antony Kimosop and Celestine Wanjala.
“This initiative is a reprieve to thousands of residents of the informal settlements who lack proper documents for their land. It will also go a long way in ending the long-standing land disputes in the areas,” Nyoro said.
The governor said more than 2,000 title deeds for Ting’ang’a Block 6 land in Kiu ward Ruiru subcounty are ready and will be issued in a week’s time.
He said massive irregularities and disputes delayed issuance of title deeds to thousands of residents.
“We must bring sanity to our county as far as land matters are concerned. We want everyone to get title deeds for their lands so that issues like grabbing and court cases among other disputes can finally come to an end,” Nyoro said.
Other areas set to benefit from the vital land ownership documents include Ndeiya shopping centre and Ndeiya scheme, where more than 6,500 residents will receive the documents in a month’s time.
The governor said the county government will invest in infrastructural improvements in the informal settlements.
This will include construction of roads, sewer systems, drainage, installation of street lights and provision of crucial amenities like water.
“We will be investing in infrastructure based on plans developed in consultation with the communities. Our aim is to improve the living standards of our people living in the settlement schemes,” Nyoro said.
Some of the beneficiaries who received the title deeds, led by Umoja settlement scheme chairman Ng’ang’a Njoroge, said they have waited for the crucial documents for over three decades.
Njoroge said lack of legitimate landownership documents has escalated land rows within the area, adding that it has left a loophole for land cartels to grab parcels belonging to them.
“We have unsuccessfully been knocking on doors looking for these vital documents for more than 30 years. But God has finally answered our prayers. We have suffered for long enough in the hands of land cartels who have been encroaching on our land parcels. We are sure that all unscrupulous grabbers will be kicked out of this area,” he said.
Resident Phyllis Nyamweru said the title deeds will enable them to develop their parcels and use the document as collateral when access financial assistance.
“We have been dreaming for a day like this and it has finally come to pass. We are grateful for the leadership of the Kiambu government and the national government. We can now sleep in peace knowing that no one will lay claim on our land,” Nyamweru said.
Edited by A.N
