Two land registry officials in Homa Bay are under investigation following allegations of rampant corruption and imposing illegal charges on members of the public who seek land-related services.
Complaints indicate that applicants have been forced to pay fees far above the government-approved rates, with payments allegedly made through unauthorized cash transactions and private M-Pesa agent numbers instead of the official e-citizen payment platform, leaving citizens without official receipts.
The two were apprehended by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCIO) but released on cash bail as investigations continue.
The investigations were triggered by multiple complaints from members of the public who claimed they were being overcharged for land-related services, particularly the printing of survey maps.
According to government guidelines, the official cost of printing a map ranges between Sh200 and Sh500 depending on size, with the maximum fee capped at Sh500. However, applicants are allegedly forced to pay up to Sh1,000 through cash or unauthorized M-Pesa agent numbers.
Confirming the investigations, Homa Bay County Criminal Investigations Officer, Peter Kimulwo, said the DCI received complaints that the two officers were unlawfully demanding cash payments or directing clients to specific M-Pesa agent numbers when offering land-related services, instead of using the government-approved e-Citizen payment system.
“The reports indicated that the officers were asking for cash or sending clients to specific M-Pesa agent numbers, contrary to the requirement that all such payments be made through the e-Citizen platform,” Kimulwo confirmed.
He also noted that investigations revealed the suspects were overcharging members of the public. “They were demanding Sh1,000 for printing land maps, yet the approved fee is Sh500 as per government guidelines,” he said.
Kimulwo added that the officers failed to keep proper records and did not issue official receipts. “The lack of documentation strongly suggests that the money collected from the public was being pocketed,” he stated.
Human rights defender, Otieno Oloo Ogor, who is also the spokesperson for Bunge la Wananchi and chairperson of Interface Community, said the abuses has been ongoing for more than a year.
“We have received numerous complaints from wananchi that officers at the land registry are demanding extra money that is not authorized by the Ministry of Lands or the Ministry of Labour. These payments do not go to the government but into private pockets,” Ogor said.
He explained that applicants were often told not to pay through official government channels such as eCitizen. Instead, they were directed to withdraw cash via specific M-Pesa agent numbers or to pay cash directly.
No official receipts were issued for these transactions, denying the government revenue and leaving citizens without proof of payment.
To verify the allegations, Ogor said he personally applied for a map sheet on January 8, 2026, for Parcel Number 1165. Despite the official price being Sh500, he was asked to pay Sh1,000. He later reported the matter at Homa Bay Police Station, where the complaint was recorded under OB Number 79 of January 2026.
Following the report, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) accompanied him to the land survey office, where they confirmed the claims after making similar inquiries. A junior officer in the lands department was arrested and later implicated a senior officer, leading to the arrest of both.
The two suspects were released on a Sh50,000 bond each and are expected to be arraigned in court this week.
Ogor questioned claims by the officers that part of the money was used to “run the office,” saying government offices are already funded through official quarterly allocations.
“This is extortion. A citizen cannot sell a cow or goat, come to seek a service, and be forced to pay illegal fees with no receipt. All government services must be receipted and paid directly to government accounts,” he said.
Ogor further called on the Ministry of Lands to install a public notice board outside the Homa Bay Land Registry clearly displaying all official service charges to protect citizens from exploitation.
By Sitna Omar
