Foreigners will no longer be allowed to hold freehold land title deeds in Kenya, the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Alice Wahome, declared on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Muyeye Health Centre in Malindi town, where she handed over a Sh48.8 million maternity wing constructed by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Wahome directed foreigners to surrender all freehold titles, which she said would be converted into 99-year leasehold title deeds.
She stated that henceforth, all freehold land title deeds held by foreigners would not be used for any transactions, but clarified that the government had no intention of dispossessing the foreigners of the land they legally acquired.
She explained that the Constitution of Kenya 2010 allows only Kenyans to have freehold titles, while foreigners are only allowed to be issued leases of 99 years and below.
“Therefore, I declare here in Malindi that those titles should not be transacted; those titles should not be used. No freehold title is usable if it is held by a foreigner, because our constitution allows only Kenyans to have freehold titles while foreigners can only have leases of 99 years and below,” she said.
She clarified that the government was not waging war with foreigners, but noted that some people misled them and issued them with freehold titles.
“You cannot, if you are not a Kenyan, have a freehold title. Therefore, I declare here in Malindi that those titles should not be transacted; they should not be used in our land registries,” she said.
The CS said her Ministry, in conjunction with the County Government of Kilifi, had built a land registry in Malindi to serve the residents of Malindi and Magarini Sub Counties who have hitherto been receiving services from Kilifi town.
She put corrupt land registry officials who ‘play’ with people’s titles on notice, saying those found culpable would face prosecution. She said the vice was rampant in the Coast region and warned that those who grab public land or illegally acquire private land would be forced to return it.
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro announced that his administration had set aside Sh45 million to equip the maternity wing. He also announced plans to convert the Muyeye Health Centre into a Women’s Hospital to be named the Mekatilili wa Menza Women’s Hospital
“We shall demolish the old buildings and build modern ones in their places. When we do this and fully equip this facility, we want to convert it to a women’s only hospital and I have already proposed to the County Assembly to pass legislation that will allow us to name this facility the Mekatilili wa Menza Women’s Hospital,” he clarified.
The governor said his government was also planning to use the Geographic Information System (GIS) to monitor all projects undertaken within the county and put on notice county government officials and rogue contractors who implement fictitious projects.
The function was also attended by Kilifi County Commissioner Josphat Biwott and Malindi Member of Parliament Amina Laura Mnyazi.
By Emmanuel Masha
