Kisii County residents have decried alleged laxity and corruption by the Ministry of Lands officials in the area.
The residents, who demonstrated at the County headquarters, demanded that Lands Registrar, Steve Mokaya and Surveyor, Christopher Kamau leave office with immediate effect.
Led by Gusii Governance Watch civil society, the residents, using boda bodas, threatened to storm the lands office but were stopped by administration police officers who closed the main gate as the lands officials locked the main door to the office block.
The Civil society chairman, Peter Momanyi and Secretary, Rachael Otundo demanded answers over why the surveyor preferred to address people at the reception and denies them access to his office, which is supposed to be a public office.
They accused him of demanding for Identification Card, Pin number and Title deed of the land registered owner whenever one went for a search, saying it was not lawful.
Otundo alleged Kamau was also corrupt, as he asked for money before he served residents and appealed to the authorities to deploy more surveyors at the office as the matter was being addressed.
The secretary, who also led the residents to the County Lands and Urban Planning CEC, Moses Onderi’s office, accused the CEC of defending the officers.
Mr. Onderi however denied receiving any previous complaints concerning the matter.
“Counter services are the best as they are quick, but I realise the residents are not happy with them,” said Onderi.
He urged the civil society to table evidence of the unauthorized persons they claimed were serving in the lands office for his further action.
Onderi revealed that the County government had advertised for the position of a surveyor to increase the number from the current one and promised to act on the other allegations during an inter committee meeting between the national and the county governments.
By Jane Naitore
