Ministry of Lands Recalls Freehold Titles Held By Foreigners 

The government, through the Ministry of Lands, has directed all foreign nationals to surrender their freehold titles with immediate effect. The directive was made by Lands CS Alice Wahome who announced that the government had become aware of freehold titles that have been irregularly issued to foreign land owners. 

CS Wahome clarified that foreign-held freehold titles were obtained either through error or corruption. She stressed that the Kenyan constitution only allows Kenyans to hold freehold title deeds, explicitly barring foreign organizations or individuals from doing so. 

The CS noted that foreign nationals can only own land on a leasehold basis, and the lease is only valid for 99 years. 

“Tell them to bring the titles to me as they are not valid. You can not be a foreigner and have a freehold title. They are only entitled to 99 years. Only Kenyans can have freehold titles,” she announced. 

Read Also: 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝?

Wahome made this declaration during the National Land Management System launch in Murang’a County. The new system aims to digitize land records, allowing residents to access services at the local land registry through a digital platform. 

One of the system's key features includes real-time alerts for landowners when someone attempts to access their land records. These alerts will only be available to those who have registered their property in the Ardhi Sasa database. 

Currently, the system is operational for property owners in Nairobi and Murang’a counties, with plans to extend its reach to Isiolo, Marsabit, and Mombasa before a nationwide rollout.

“Our objective is to ensure the platform becomes accessible in all parts of the country within the shortest possible time frame,” CS Wahome stated, emphasizing the future of land records in Kenya.

Read Also: 𝐌𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫'𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐲 𝐈𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐝

Wahome highlighted the issue of corruption within land boards, warning that cartels had been exploiting these boards, resulting in residents losing their land. She urged the public to report corrupt board members to her office for immediate action.

Additionally, the Cabinet Secretary dismissed allegations that the government was planning a wholesale conversion of freehold titles to leaseholds, asserting that such a move would be legally and constitutionally unfeasible. 

Read Also: 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬