The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has come under intense parliamentary scrutiny over the loss of public land at its Central Transmission Station in Mlolongo, Machakos County. This follows revelations that 11 parcels of land, totaling 4.1271 acres, were irregularly allocated to private individuals.
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy, chaired by Pokot South MP David Pkosing, directed KCAA to urgently secure title deeds for all its properties. The directive comes amid concerns that the agency has not acted swiftly to halt further encroachment.
“Why has it taken you so long to obtain a court injunction to stop further encroachment?” asked Pkosing, expressing the Committee’s frustration with the agency’s sluggish response.
KCAA Director General Emile Arao told the Committee that the agency reached out to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in April 2022 and again in June 2023 to assist in reclaiming the land. He also revealed that the Survey of Kenya confirmed the irregular allocations and advised legal action.
However, the situation appears dire, with Arao admitting that KCAA holds no title deeds for any of its land in Mlolongo. Even efforts to conduct a land search at the Ministry of Lands have been futile, with crucial files reported missing.
MPs, including Laikipia East’s Mwangi Kiunjuri and Nyeri Town’s Duncan Mathenge, raised concerns about poor land management and possible collusion. Kiunjuri warned that without documentation, KCAA risks being labeled as squatters on their own land.
“If someone else has the title deed, KCAA could face eviction,” he warned, calling for an immediate on-site inspection.
The Committee resolved that KCAA must immediately place cautions on the 11 parcels at the Lands Registry while initiating legal proceedings to recover the land. It also questioned the integrity of the Ministry of Lands, especially amid ongoing digitisation efforts that have failed to yield critical documents.
“This Committee has resolved that KCAA must act now to protect public property,” Pkosing concluded, demanding accountability and swift recovery of the lost land.
