A major land security crisis has emerged in Nairobi after it was revealed that 44 out of 64 police stations in the city do not have title deeds, leaving them exposed to land grabbing, encroachment, and possible disruption of operations.

The findings were presented to the Senate Committee on National Security by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on Thursday, April 23, 2026, who warned of widespread gaps in the legal ownership of critical security infrastructure.

According to the report, only about 20 police stations in Nairobi have proper ownership documents, meaning roughly 68 per cent of stations are operating without secure land tenure.

IG Kanja told the committee that this situation reflects what he described as a “systemic failure in securing the legal tenure of essential public infrastructure,” noting that many stations are effectively left unprotected in legal terms.

The report further reveals that the affected stations are not minor installations. Some of Nairobi’s most prominent facilities, including Gigiri, Muthaiga, and Ngara, are among those operating without title deeds or with incomplete records.

The documentation gap cuts across multiple subcounties, with Starehe identified as the most affected area. Stations such as Ngara, Pangani, Eastleigh North, Kariobangi, Korogocho, and Muthaiga are all listed as lacking proper documentation in the area.

Other affected regions include Kasarani, Makadara, Kayole, Embakasi, Ruaraka, and Ruai, where several stations and posts reportedly operate on land without formal ownership records.

In Kilimani, facilities including Kileleshwa Police Station, Kibra Police Station, and Sarangombe Police Post are also affected. The report notes similar issues at Lang’ata Police Station, alongside Hardy and Akila police stations and Bomas Police Post.

In more affluent and strategic areas, Runda and Gigiri police stations, as well as Loresho and Evergreen police posts, are also listed among those without clear title documentation. Parklands Police Station and Luthuli Police Post are similarly flagged.

Further gaps were identified at Kabete and Muthangari police stations, as well as Kawangware and Gatina posts, all of which are reported to lack proper legal documentation for the land they occupy.

Funding crisis?

Kanja said that some of these stations sit on donated land that was never formally registered, while others have records that are missing or untraceable.

Officials warned that the lack of title deeds leaves police facilities vulnerable, with the report noting that the stations are “technically squatting on land that is increasingly targeted by private developers and land grabbers.”

The revelations have raised concerns over the long-term stability of Nairobi’s security infrastructure, especially given that these are essential public facilities expected to operate without interruption.

The findings come amid broader national concerns over public land ownership, following earlier reports that thousands of public institutions, including schools, also lack title deeds, leaving them exposed to similar risks of encroachment and stalled development.

The Senate Committee on National Security is expected to deliberate on the findings and recommend measures to secure ownership documents for all affected police stations.