Parliament has launched an investigation into the theft of security documents used to print title deeds at the government printer.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi directed the Lands Committee to probe the issue after Machakos Senator Kavindu Muthama submitted a petition following the mysterious disappearance of 367 documents, which the Ministry of Lands blames on land cartels.
Muthama emphasized the severity of the situation, warning that the incident poses a significant threat to the integrity of land ownership documents and could lead to widespread land fraud.
Senator Muthama has called on the committee to summon ministry officials and the management of the Government Printer to explain the steps being taken to recover the stolen papers.
The panel will also investigate measures already in place to track and retrieve the missing documents and prevent their use in fraudulent schemes.
“The committee must present a progress report on the investigation into the theft of these documents,” Muthama stated, emphasizing that the inquiry should focus on identifying the individuals and cartels behind the theft.
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In addition, the committee has been tasked with evaluating the current security protocols at the Government Printer and other institutions involved, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future. As part of the investigation, they will assess the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning’s efforts to raise public awareness of land fraud risks.
The committee will also examine strategies employed by the ministry to educate the public on the importance of verifying title deeds and other land-related documents, including survey plans and deed plans.
Furthermore, the committee has been urged to review the Ministry’s long-term plans to leverage modern technology in safeguarding paper title deeds from theft, damage, or loss.
