Acting Lands Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i questioned over missing files

Cabinet Secretatary Fred Matiang'i converse with National Committee for Lands ( from left ) Easther Murigi,Patrick Makau,Francis Nderitu and Itwiku Mbai when he appeared before them at Parliament Buildings 14/07/15 [PHOTO/MOSES OMUSULA/STANDARD]

Acting Lands Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i was yesterday hard pressed to explain missing files in the docket.

The Cabinet Secretary found himself in a tight spot when it emerged that he did not have information on queries MPs were asking him regarding grabbed land in Kajiado and Kilifi counties.

Dr Matiang'i, who appeared before the National Assembly's Lands Committee, explained to the lawmakers that some of the land transactions did not have official records because they were done illegally.

"If the information does not exist, you don't expect the present minister to manufacture the documents," said Matiang'i.

The grilling focused on allocation of 1,400 acres of land in Ngong' to private players, who used the land as collateral to take a bank loan. The private developers have reportedly since defaulted on repayment of the loan and the the bank now wants to auction the land to recover the money.

"The excision of this land to private players is illegal. It is not that we are not answering questions, we're just giving you the information we have," said Matiang'i.

The committee intervened after Maasai elders petitioned the National Assembly over annexation of the land initially allocated to a veterinary college.

Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati), a member of the committee, said they were "frustrated" that the public and the National Land Commission appeared to have more information about the transaction than the CS.