Economy

KRA on the spot over pieces of land with no title deeds

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Auditor-General Edward Ouko. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Parliament has put the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on the spot over failure to acquire title deeds for 20 properties whose ownership status the Auditor-General Edward Ouko could not authenticate.

Public Investments Committee (PIC) says the KRA has not satisfactorily followed up on acquisition of title deeds for its various parcels of land with the National Land Commission.

“The application for letters of allotment was lodged to the National Lands Commission in 2009 and then in June 2016, an indication of a long lapse of time,” said PIC chairman Adan Keynan in the 21st report on the audited financial statements of State corporations.

The committee has directed KRA to expedite acquisition of the title deeds so as to protect the public assets.

“The Commissioner-General should report progress to the National Assembly within six months of the adoption of this report,” PIC said.

Mr Ouko questioned the acquisition of 17 parcels of land without title deeds in various parts of the country valued at Sh378 million and buildings worth Sh829 million which were transferred to KRA by the government at inception in 1995.

Others include an unvalued parcel of land which does not have a title deed in Taita Taveta County and another in Shimoni Kwale, which is registered in the name of East African Common Services Authority.  

“In the circumstances, it has not been possible to confirm the ownership status of the 20 parcels of land, and the property, plant equipment balance of Sh12. 3 billion is fairly stated as at  June30, 2014,” the auditor said.

KRA Commissioner-General John Njiraini said the agency received a total of 64 parcels of land from the government at inception in 1995 following the enactment of the KRA Act.