Ardhi House workers now spend their time 'idling'

NAIROBI: Frustrated staffers at the title deed processing centre on fourth floor of Ardhi House while away time reading newspapers, drinking tea and browsing the Internet with no Chief Land Registrar (CLR) to sign off on their work, The Standard can reveal.

A frustrated Lands ministry employee told The Standard: “Title deeds cannot be printed if we don’t know who is going to sign the document. We do what we can by processing the paper work but after the file is ready for titling, our work stops because titles cannot be printed, signed or processed.”

The situation has been compounded by the failure to resolve legal issues between the Lands CS and the National Land Commission. Leases have been one of the contentious issues between Charity Ngilu and NLC Chairman Muhammad Swazuri.

But NLC deputy chair Abigael Mbagaya told The Standard that while they are concerned about the lease crisis, an opportunity has arisen for them to resolve long-standing issues with the acting Lands CS Fred Matiang’i. “We have had wonderful discussions with Mr Matiang’i and are moving to resolve some long-standing issues,” said Ms Mbagaya.

With regard to the suspension of the CLR, Mbagaya said according to the Lands Act, the CLR is appointed by the Public Service Commission. The law does not state that the CLR has to be gazetted, at least according to knowledgeable land sources.

Land dealers are frustrated. “They keep telling us there is no one to sign the titles. It has been over a month now, how much longer should I wait?” complained a man who is trying to sell his land.