Parliament has launched an inquiry into the theft of security documents used to print title deeds at the government printer.
The move comes weeks after the documents mysteriously disappeared in what the ministry attributed to land cartels.
On Wednesday, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi directed the Lands Committee to inquire into the matter following a petition by Machakos Senator Kavindu Muthama.
“This incident poses a significant threat to the integrity of land ownership documents in our country and could potentially lead to widespread land fraud,” Muthama said in her petition.
In the statement, Muthama wants the committee to summon the ministry officials and the management of the Government Printer to explain the actions being taken to recover the stolen security papers.
The panel will also establish the measures implemented to track and retrieve the lost documents and prevent their misuse for fraudulent purposes.
“The committee should present a progress report on the investigation concerning the theft of the said documents,” Muthama said.
The probe should focus on identifying the individuals and land cartels involved in the theft of the papers.
The committee has been tasked to ascertain the strategies implemented to strengthen security protocols at the Government Printer and other pertinent institutions to avert similar occurrences in the future.
“The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development must take immediate and decisive action to address this critical issue,” Muthama said.
In the senate probe, the committee will outline the steps taken by the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning to raise public awareness about the risks associated with land fraud.
The committee will also establish strategies employed by the ministry to inform the public about the importance of verifying the authenticity of title deeds and all other documents related to land registration.
They include survey plans, mutation forms and deed plans among other crucial land documents.
“Appraise the Senate on the Ministry’s long-term plans to leverage modern technology while implementing protocols to protect paper title deeds from damage, loss, or theft,” the statement reads.
Last month, the Ministry of Lands shocked the nation when it announced the theft of some 367 security papers at the Government Printer.
Later, the ministry explained that the papers were components in the titling process, not title deeds.
