Tigoni and Ngecha residents in Limuru Municipality have received title deeds from Kiambu County Government.
Over 800 residents were on hand to receive the title deeds that were personally handed over by Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi.
At the event held at St. Pauls University grounds, Limuru Sub County, the Governor called upon residents to guard the title deeds well.
Governor Wamatangi cautioned residents against improper use of the document saying it should not be used as an alternative for accruing loans but rather as an asset.
“Today as you receive these title deeds, you not only claim the security of land ownership but also the freedom to plan for the future and in that ownership comes the opportunity to develop it, to farm it and to pass it to future generations with pride and certainty,” Wamatangi said.
According to the Kiambu Government Plans on land and land use, 85 percent of the population with land in the County have so far title deeds to their land and there are no recorded cases of landlessness.
The remaining 15 percent have not received their title deeds due to unfinished land adjudication process and non payment of the necessary fees.
The Governor said that he is keen to see this percentage reduce even further and urged the CECM for Lands, Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development Salome Wainaina together with the National Land Commission to fast-track the pending cases in Limuru Central, and Misri so that by December this year every legitimate land owner in Limuru Sub-County will have received their title deeds.
“I call upon the Ministry and the team from National Land Commision to explore all avenues to ensure the remaining few people get deeds to their land,” Wamatangi said.
Patrick Ngaruya, MCA for Ngecha Tigoni ward welcomed the move by the Governor saying some of the delayed title deeds dated as far back as 30 years.
He further praised National Lands Commission (NLC) County Coordinator, Molu Halake for making the whole process seamless, terming his input invaluable.
“The NLC team has been steadfast and I can confidently say that were it not for the County Coordinator, some of these title deeds would not have been issued today,” the MCA said.
Ngaruiya further thanked Lands Registrar for Kiambu County Gladys Mwikali who expedited the registration of the title deeds in time, for the handing out ceremony.
Article 61 of the Constitution grants powers to citizens to own land whether public, private or community owned and a title deed is the sealing document to this very crucial right.
By Xavier Brian
