Probe Karoney, lawyers’ body tells MPs over land registry

Lands Cabinet Secretary Farida Karoney could be in trouble after the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) asked the National Assembly to probe her over mismanagement of land administration in the country.

In a petition received by the National Assembly, LSK President Allen Gichuhi said efforts by the society to have Karoney address  chronic issues at the land registry have not been successful and thus asked legislators to crack the whip and commence investigations on her.

Gichuki who said, failure by the National Assembly to address the issues could lead to disorder in the country, also expressed concerns that despite the annulment of the Land Registration (Electronic Land Transactions) Regulations 2019, there has been continued unlawful implementation of the Land Information Management System (LIMS) by the Ministry without proper backing of the law.

Reads the petition in part: “Despite, all efforts and constant engagement by LSK and other stakeholders, there seems to be unwillingness on the part of the Cabinet Secretary to work towards efficient and effective land administration in the country,” 

In the petition, Gichuki expressed concerns that in some instances there are glaring cases where wrong stamp duty values are embossed on instruments and missing records.

He expressed concerns that advocates are experiencing challenges in getting access to registrars, a move that has led to long transactional periods. 

The inefficiency in the registry he said had also led to cases where Land Registrars are demanding for production of court proceedings in order to recognise court orders leading to delays in transactions despite them which having already been settled by the court.  

Further Gichuki in the petition has also raised concerns over the illegal execution of leases and licenses by junior land registrars against the Land Act.