The Senate Committee on Roads, Housing and Transportation has opened a new inquiry into the troubled Jamii Bora Housing Project in Kisaju, Kajiado County, amid long-running disputes over land ownership, payment of rates and approval of housing units.
The committee, chaired by Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, met county officials, project developers, bank representatives and petitioners as homeowners continue to wait for long-promised title deeds.
Senator Oketch noted that homeowners have waited far too long for their documents, prompting the Senate’s renewed intervention.
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Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku told senators the county is dealing with “an amorphous entity which borders on criminality,” claiming Jamii Bora’s operational structure and adherence to county laws remain unclear. He stressed that land rates and rent must be paid in line with the law, saying Jamii Bora is not special before the law.
“Let Jamii Bora comply with the law first. Let them submit their documents, and they will pay land rates to the last penny,” he said,
Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute pressed for clarity on whether the project land is freehold or leasehold and who between the developer and buyers should bear the burden of land rates.
Governor Lenku revealed that while 710 units had been approved by the county, an additional 117 were constructed without permission.
Kajiado County CEC for Lands Hamilton Parseina said title deeds for residents cannot be processed because of restrictions placed on the mother title. .
Petitioner Samuel Wahome acknowledged that he personally requested the restriction in 2013 to prevent a bank from auctioning the homes following loan defaults.
The committee also questioned Jamii Bora developer Sofia Ingrid on delays in issuing individual titles. Ingrid assured senators that all residents would receive title deeds by January 2026. She said the missing green card from the Ministry of Lands had been traced and restored. Ingrid urged the county not to demolish unapproved units, arguing that buyers purchased them in good faith.
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She also disclosed that she negotiated a land rate reduction amounting to Ksh 17 million, which was paid using a Kingdom Bank loan in June 2023.
Kingdom Bank’s Head of Legal Services, Jack Kimathi, informed the committee that the conversion process from freehold to leasehold began in 2013 to facilitate individual titles. He said the developer must sign a surrender of title for the bank to proceed with title processing for homeowners.
Petitioners’ chairman Calvin Munayi urged the county, the bank, and the developer to work together to ensure residents finally receive their long-awaited titles.
Senator Peris Tobiko observed that the 117 unapproved houses were fully paid for in cash and maintained that the developer must sign the title surrender to resolve the dispute.
By Obegi Malack
