A land verification and validation exercise has begun in four sub-counties in Nakuru to authenticate land ownership and facilitate the issuance of title deeds.
The exercise that will run from October 19 to October 29, 2026, is part of the tenure regularisation process and is being overseen by the County Government of Nakuru’s Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development.
Once complete, over 1,500 plot owners will be issued with title deeds in Gilgil, Rongai, Naivasha and Subukia Sub-Counties.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development Mr John Kihagi said the initiative aims to enhance land digitalisation and streamline land registration processes.
He added that the move is a critical step in resolving long-standing land ownership issues in the regions.
Mr Kihagi indicated that the verification process seeks to confirm the physical location and allotments of landowners at Kongasis in Gilgil Sub-County, Salgaa in Rongai Sub-County, Mai Mahiu in Naivasha Sub-County, and Subukia in Subukia Sub-County to ensure accuracy and legitimacy in title deed issuance, a move expected to spur economic growth in Nakuru.
“The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to regularise land ownership, resolve long-standing disputes and facilitate the issuance of title deeds across the county. The verification process entails the substantiation of ownership documents by technical officers. These activities are vital for preparing precise and validated documentation that will be submitted to the Survey of Kenya,” noted Kihagi.
The CECM explained that the exercise seeks to authenticate land ownership records, verify beneficiary lists, protect eligible landowners against grabbing and encroachment and prepare necessary documentation for title deed processing.
Residents participating in the verification have been advised to present their original national identity cards and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN certificates, alongside photocopies of the documents.
They are also required to bring their allotment letters or original allocation documents.
Those acting on behalf of deceased beneficiaries should provide a confirmation of grant and other relevant succession documents to establish their legal authority to represent the deceased.
Mr Kihagi stated that his department has scheduled a public sensitisation and inception meeting at Kongasis Trading Centre in Gilgil Sub-County for October 19, ahead of a beneficiary verification exercise on October 21 at Lamp Light Church.
Residents of Salgaa Trading Centre in Mosop Ward, Rongai Sub-County, will participate in the exercise on October 26 at the Chief’s Camp, while those in Mai Mahiu, Naivasha Sub-County, will be attended to on October 28 at the Ward Administrator’s Offices.
The exercise wraps up on October 29 at the sub-county offices. All verification exercises are scheduled to begin at 9am.
Kihagi pledged that Governor Susan Kihika’s administration was committed to working with the National Government and relevant agencies to address longstanding land ownership challenges and help eligible residents obtain legal recognition of their property rights.
“Governor Kihika has always affirmed that secure land ownership is essential to protecting residents’ property rights, preventing encroachment and resolving disputes that have persisted for years,” added the CECM.
He urged all affected residents to attend the verification exercises, present the required documents and ensure their details are accurately captured.
Mr Kihagi emphasised that beyond securing land rights and preventing future disputes, the issuance of titles would serve as a foundation for economic empowerment, enabling access to credit, attracting investment, and facilitating development projects.
He underscored the importance of land ownership in securing property rights, enhancing value, and ensuring legal recognition.
The CECM reiterated the county government’s commitment to issuing title deeds to all residents.
“Under the county leadership and in collaboration with other government agencies, we are dedicated to facilitating title deed acquisition for squatters and settlers across Nakuru,” Mr Kihagi stated.
He urged residents to take advantage of the exercise to verify their land records, noting that the initiative aims to address long-standing land ownership disputes in the county.
Mr Kihagi said he was optimistic that title deeds will now help check land grabbing and end land disputes. He said land security will be ensured and disputes drastically reduced since owners will now have title deeds.
He appealed to residents who will get the documents to keep them in safe custody.
“To ensure transparency and thoroughness, committees representing each of the sub-counties have been formed to work alongside government officials in verifying land claims and protecting residents’ rights. This effort includes identifying and securing essential amenities, such as schools and markets, to benefit the entire community,” Mr Kihagi elaborated.
The exercise he added is focused on expediting land settlement while safeguarding essential public utilities within communities.
Mr Kihagi noted that the families from the sub-counties have suffered as they have been unable to access financial loans to develop their land since the 1980s due to lack of collateral.
“A title deed is not only proof of ownership but also a catalyst to economic empowerment as it can be used to get loans,” noted Mr Kihagi.
He said issuance of titles will offer security of land tenure that is pivotal in opening up the areas for commercial ventures, specifically in real estate.
Nakuru hosts numerous settlement schemes established shortly after independence. Until the late 1990s, a majority of the beneficiaries only held allotment letters.
Prolonged disputes and lack of proper organisational structure have remained major challenges to the resident’s clamour for the legal documents that have the potential of transforming lives. A team of officials from the county’s Lands Department and the National Lands Commission (NLC) has been formed to expedite the processing of the title deeds.
Mr Kihagi observed that there were many petitions from residents whose continued stay on their respective parcels without the documents left them uncertain.
Among them is a petition from the disputed Ndabibi Farm residents who acquired it through purchase or as a retirement gift from the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) in the 1990s.
“There is a growing concern over the lack of security of tenure from residents. We are racing against time to unlock the backlog in title deeds issuance,” said the CECM.
Mr Kihagi indicated that due to many land cases pending in courts, the County government had trained mediators to help resolve the disputes and hasten the issuance of title deeds to residents.
He said most land cases can be solved through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as opposed to filing court cases. This, he said, will ensure the ongoing titling programme benefits more residents.
Statistics from the courts in the region indicate that at least 50 per cent of cases involve land.
The exercises will be conducted within the framework of the Land Act No. 6 of 2012 and the Survey Act (Cap 299).
The National Land Commission (NLC) has previously noted that transparent beneficiary verification and ground audits are essential constitutional tools for validating public land records, preventing irregular allocations and safeguarding historical land rights for vulnerable communities.
Mr Kihagi pointed out that the exercise builds on broader devolved and national joint initiatives aimed at regularising informal settlements and resolving decades-old tenure uncertainties.
Other land-related ongoing activities include titling of over 1,000 plot owners in Bahati and Dundori, boundary surveys in Pole Pole market centre (Subukia) and Mercy Njeri (Rongai), the resolution of the 31-year Banita Settlement Scheme adjudication for 2,000 residents and the processing of titles for over 1,500 residents at Ruiyobei Farm in Solai Ward after a 41-year wait.
By Jane Ngugi and Caroline Nyakio
