NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s Parliament has launched a fresh inquiry into the ownership of 74 acres of land currently hosting the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) terminus in Nairobi, following revelations that Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) may have acquired the property without proper documentation.
The National Assembly Lands Committee raised alarm after it was discovered that essential documents, such as title deeds and allotment letters, are missing, calling into question the legitimacy of the land acquisition process.
The land, which was reportedly purchased from the Dupoto/Darfur Settlement Welfare Scheme, has now become the subject of a probe.
MPs were taken aback when it was revealed that KRC proceeded with the transaction despite the absence of verified proof of ownership.
The inquiry has expanded to include a separate 55-acre parcel, also acquired by KRC from the same scheme for Sh2.7 billion under similarly unclear circumstances.
Committee chair Joash Nyamoko, who is also the North Mugirango MP, explained that KRC’s purchase of the land was based on a letter of interest from the welfare scheme’s chairman, Likam Ole Kiambu, who approached KRC after learning that the corporation was seeking land for the SGR project.
The Dupoto/Darfur Welfare Scheme claims ownership of both parcels—totalling 93 acres—carved from Nairobi Block Land No. 125/2173 in Embakasi.
Ole Kiambu testified that the land had been under the scheme’s control since 1958 through allotment letters.
However, the title deeds for the 74-acre portion remain unresolved, which has caused a delay in compensation for the affected members.
“Kenya Railways took 74 acres without payment due to lack of documents. The SGR now occupies that land,” Ole Kiambu told the committee.
Concerns about the missing documentation raised questions about whether the welfare scheme could ever secure compensation for its members.
Kaloleni MP Paul Katana expressed skepticism about the likelihood of fair compensation, stating, “So Kenya Railways took the land without documentation, and your chances of payment are fifty-fifty?”
Kilome MP Thuddeus Kithua also noted long-standing grievances among scheme members, some of whom allegedly received as little as Sh50,000 in compensation, while others were forcibly evicted.
Documents presented to the committee accuse politically connected individuals and law firms of misappropriating funds that were supposed to go toward compensation.
“The scheme has pursued justice through lawsuits and petitions, but to no avail. Funds were allegedly diverted to powerful figures,” the documents read.
Given the gravity of these concerns, Nyamoko has announced plans to summon KRC’s board chair, the National Land Commission, and officials from the Ministry of Lands to clarify the acquisition process.
He also demanded that all records and minutes from meetings between KRC and the welfare scheme be submitted to the committee for further scrutiny.
“We want to meet KRC. We want to establish how KRC was moved by a letter to spend Sh2.7 billion just because Ole Kiambu wrote to them. We want to understand this,” Nyamoko said.
The committee has also directed its members to conduct a physical inspection of the site to assess its current status, occupation, and any ongoing developments.
Additionally, the Ministry of Lands has been ordered to investigate land records at the Land Registry within 14 days and provide a detailed report on the true ownership of the land.
Nyamoko also emphasized the need for the Ministry of Lands to verify whether the affected parties were fairly compensated based on market rates and legal provisions.
“What we will be seeking to establish is what was the exact amount disbursed by Kenya Railways for the compensation of the members of the Welfare Scheme? Was the compensation fully accounted for?” Nyamoko said.
