Kihiu Mwiri members cry foul over ‘fake’ titles

The troubled Kihiu Mwiri land-buying company that has been in the news over the murders of its directors is also mired in a land titling controversy.

Out of over 3,500 title deeds issued to the company’s shareholders, only a few individuals can locate their land. 

Since President Uhuru Kenyatta launched issuance of title deeds to members, hundreds of beneficiaries are yet to receive the documents.

Worryingly, most of those who received the titles cannot locate their property.

They are now blaming the Government for issuing them with “fake” documents, claiming that the titles have been rejected by banks and courts.

As a result, the papers cannot be used to secure loans or be deposited in court as surety for bond.

Peter Kamau is among members whose documents were rejected by a Thika court after he failed to show the titled land to court officials.

“My brother had been granted Sh150,000 bond but the family opted to sell our only two cows to secure his release from remand custody,” said Mr Kamau.

Jennifer Nyambura, another shareholder, said the titling confusion meant property left behind by her mother risked getting lost.

 Nyambura said their documents were vetted by a truthing committee but the family was issued with a title deed before they could be shown their land.

Ground-truthing is where selected members register members’ allotment numbers, take photos on the land and submit their list to the lands office.

“We have two title deeds but we cannot tell where the land is. It is now impossible to sell the land,” said Nyambura.

Francis Ndungu Mwangi has five parcels of land but the title deeds show their locations to be elsewhere, while Emily Mumbi Nguyo cannot locate the land indicated on her title deed although she has built permanent structures on the property she currently occupies.

In another case, land owned by one Pauline Wahito Kamau is indicated in land papers to be owned by Josephine Mumbi.

It later emerged that the officials involved in titling of the land never presented the list of beneficiaries and the maps used to allocate plots to the lands office.

“We have always asked for the list of beneficiaries and the original map but no one is willing to show them to us. We had the original list with members’ allotment numbers for their respective plots, but that is not what is reflected in the title deeds,” said company chairman Pharis Mwangi.