Residents of Nyandarua County will soon enjoy the services of a new lands registry even as normalcy returns at the troubled County offices in Nyahururu.
The new Ardhi House in Ol Kalau that is 90 percent complete, is expected to bring the services closer to the people as the old registry that serves both Nyandarua and Samburu Counties is located in Nyahururu, Laikipia County.
The County Commissioner (CC), Boaz Cherutich, announced on Thursday that services will be rolled out at the facility in two months’ time with the current backlog expected to be reduced drastically.
“The complaints at the Nyahururu registry was as a result of staff shortage and nation-wide transfer of Land Registrars and Clerks.
“We want to ensure that services will be delivered with speed and reduce the time of services to a day from the previous three days. There will be a customer care desk and a register to monitor movement of land documents at the registry,” he said urging the elected leaders to support the officers and desist from politicizing the matter.
He also urged public institutions to take advantage of subsidized levies to acquire titles for all public lands, noting that a number of the title deeds were lying at the Nyahururu office uncollected.
The embattled Nyandarua and Samburu County Registrar, Charles Ayienda, noted that the new lands’ registry that is fully automated, was constructed by the national government to a tune of Sh.17 million.
“We are getting digital and all searches will be done online come next year. The offices will have a complete automated server room,” he added noting that the rooms are spacious except for the strong room that needs a little expansion to handle the massive files.
He regretted the jam experienced earlier this year was as a result of missing records that were bungled in the past, assuring that his team was up to the task to ensure the records are straightened and the green cards availed.
“This is a technical ministry and the new staffs that we received in March had to learn. We now have a deputy Lands Registrar and work pressure is coming down,” promising to work round the clock to ensure the backlog is cleared.
In March this year, residents of the county took to the streets to protest laxity at the facility demanding the transfer of Ayienda, a move that prompted Nyandarua Women Rep. Faith Gitau to question the Lands Cabinet Secretary, Farida Karoney whether she was “aware of the inefficiency and complacency”, before the National Assembly last week.
By Anne Sabuni
