Parliament has launched an inquiry into the theft of security documents used in the printing of title deeds at the Government Printer, a move aimed at addressing growing concerns over land fraud.
This follows the mysterious disappearance of the documents, which the Ministry of Lands has attributed to the actions of land cartels.
On Wednesday, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi instructed the Lands Committee to investigate the matter after a petition was brought forward by Machakos Senator Kavindu Muthama.
“This incident poses a serious threat to the integrity of land ownership documents in our country and could lead to widespread land fraud,” Muthama said in her petition.
Muthama urged the committee to summon ministry officials and the management of the Government Printer to explain the steps being taken to recover the stolen security papers.
The investigation will also focus on identifying the individuals and cartels responsible for the theft and determining the measures being implemented to prevent the misuse of these documents for fraudulent activities.
The committee has been tasked with presenting a progress report on the ongoing investigation and outlining strategies to improve security protocols at the Government Printer and other institutions involved in document printing.
“The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development must act swiftly to address this critical issue,” Muthama emphasized.
In addition to the investigation, the Senate committee will examine the efforts of the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning to raise public awareness about the risks of land fraud and the importance of verifying the authenticity of title deeds.
The probe will also assess the ministry’s strategies for safeguarding crucial land-related documents, such as survey plans, mutation forms, and deed plans.
The inquiry follows a shocking revelation last month when the Ministry of Lands announced the theft of 367 security papers at the Government Printer, which were components in the titling process.
However, the ministry later clarified that these documents were not actual title deeds.
The committee will also explore the ministry’s long-term plans to use modern technology to protect title deeds and other land documents from theft, loss, or damage.
