The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has come under sharp scrutiny from Parliament after it emerged that private individuals may have illegally taken some of its land in Mlolongo.
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has now directed KCAA to urgently secure title deeds for all its land.
This follows revelations that 11 parcels of land under the authority’s management have been irregularly allocated.
The committee, chaired by Pokot South MP David Pkosing, raised the issue during a session reviewing KCAA’s audited accounts for the 2018/2019 to 2021/2022 financial years.
KCAA Director General Emile Arao told MPs that the affected land is part of the Central Transmission Station in Mlolongo, Machakos County.
According to Arao, the land originally measured 160 acres but has since been subdivided, with about 4.13 acres now under private ownership. “We reached out to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in April 2022 and again in June 2023 to assist in recovering the land,” he told the committee.
The Survey of Kenya has reportedly confirmed the irregularities and advised KCAA to begin legal recovery. However, committee members expressed frustration over the slow pace of action from the authority.
Committee Chair David Pkosing questioned why KCAA had not yet obtained a court injunction to stop further encroachment. Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri called for an inspection visit to assess the situation on the ground and warned that without proper documentation, KCAA risked being seen as illegal squatters.
“The person with the title deed is the legal owner. Without it, KCAA may be forced off its own land,” said Kiunjuri.
It was further revealed that KCAA does not hold any title deeds for its land in Mlolongo. Arao explained that attempts to retrieve records from the Ministry of Lands had failed. “The files are missing. The 11 disputed parcels already have title deeds under private names,” he said.
Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge questioned the Ministry of Lands’ record-keeping, especially since land digitization has been ongoing. Ganze MP Kazungu Tungule also sought to understand how the land was lost. “You’re saying only 4.1 acres are affected. How exactly did this happen?” he asked.
Arao confirmed the figure, stating, “Yes, Chair. The disputed parcels total 4.1271 acres.”
Following the meeting, the Committee directed KCAA to immediately place a caution on the 11 parcels at the Lands Registry while beginning legal action to reclaim the land.
The Committee also raised concerns over other KCAA projects flagged by auditors, including housing units in Nyali, Bamburi, and Miritini, as well as infrastructure at the East African School of Aviation.
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