NASA principal and Amani National Congress party boss Musalia Mudavadi has been dealt a blow after the National Lands Commission revoked title deeds of several pieces of land he owned.
According to Daily Nation, the Commission has revoked hundred of title deeds held by top notch politicians, lawyers and former civil servants in the country in a new cleanup exercise in the Lands Ministry.
In a Gazette notice issued on July 17, 2017, the commission led by Dr. Mohammed Swazuri maintains Mudavadi was irregularly allocated public utility land in Nairobi’s Woodley estate meant for the county government. The title of the land has since been revoked.
The commission has also repossessed two pieces of land in Kanyakwar, Kisumu County each measuring 0.50 hectares and returned it to the Commissioner of Lands.
Another piece of land belonging to Mudavadi’s father in Kakamega has been given back to Kakamega Golf Club.
Presidential Candidate Joe Nyagah has also lost land in the new cleanup by the commission..
Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO Prof George Godia has lost a parcel of land as the NLC states it belongs to Eldoret Prison.
Swazuri in the notice explained the commission embarked on a review of the grants after receiving numerous complaints from the public; national and county governments.
“The Commission via public notices in the national dailies invited all interested parties to appear before it to inspect documents and make written and oral representations and submissions,” said Swazuri in the notice.
“Consequently, the Commission has made determinations in respect of the following grants/titles and orders for revocation, regularization, upholding of the title where applicable as indicated or given further orders,” he said adding the Chief Land Registrar is required to revoke all title deeds as per the commissions directive stipulated in Section 14(5) of the National Lands Commission Act and Attendant laws.
The revocation of title deeds for land mostly held by politicians and prominent figures within the country’s political and business circles comes as a surprise to many after years of protest over land grabbing by civil servants.
A fierce battle now looms between the affected persons and NLC. Some of then had secured loans in banks using the title deeds that have now been revoked or land repossessed.
Others who have been affected by the clean up include former Education Minister Prof Sam Ongeri whose piece of land in Kisii has been reverted to Kisii County Government where a market will be built.
He acquired the land in the 90’s when he served as a minister in the Kanu government.