The Kenya Railways Corporation has announced its intentions to reclaim and repossess all the state firm’s land and property illegally acquired by private individuals countrywide.
In a public notice, KR has advised all those in possession of illegal title deeds to surrender these documents at its head offices by 30th October, 2019.
“We also urge any person with knowledge of illegal title deeds on Kenya Railways land and property that is in possession of other persons to report to us,” said the statement signed by KR Managing Director Atanas K. Maina.
The Corporation is also planning to demolish all illegal structures built on the railway reserve land countrywide. This includes land along the Mombasa-Kisumu-Malaba railway corridor, as well as Nakuru-Kisumu, Voi-Taveta, Nairobi-Nanyuki, Gilgil-Nyahururu, Kisumu-Butere, Eldoret- Kitale and Konza-Magadi branch lines.
“The reclamation and repossession process is in progress and those who fail to comply with the directives of this notice will be evicted without further notice,” said the notice.
A report from the Office of the Auditor General on Kenya Railways Corporation, dated 30th June 2018, shows that several plots countrywide are occupied by illegal developers, without its authority, County Governments or defunct local authorities.
The report gives the example of Limuru Railway Station constituting 9 industrial plots, 3 acres of land within Kikuyu Railway station.
Mr Edward Ouko, the then Auditor General said in a report dated 1st July, 2019 notes that there are 529 parcels that have been illegally allocated across Kenya. Already, the Corporation has sought court intervention to repossess 27 of these parcels.
The Auditor’s report concludes that it is not possible to confirm the accuracy and validity of property, plant and equipment balance of Sh 24,941,511,520 .00 as at 30th June, 2018.
