The Senate Committee on Roads, Housing, and Transportation put to task Governor Joseph Ole Lenku of Kajiado County to address a petition regarding access to title deeds for properties purchased in the Jamii Bora estate in Kisaju, Kajiado County.
According to the Governor, the Kisaju Estate, initially intended to provide housing for the poor from Nairobi slums such as Korogocho, Kibera, and Mathare, was later converted by Ms. Sofia Ingrid Munro from a charity project to commercial development. This change allowed the County Government of Kajiado to collect rent and rates from the estate.
Governor Ole Lenku explained that the County Government granted a change of land use from agricultural to commercial and residential development.
Lenku stated that the directors of Jamii Bora Estate should surrender the mother title to facilitate the subdivision process and enable property owners in Kisaju Estate to obtain their title deeds.
The Governor further informed the committee that since the change of land use, the Jamii Bora Charitable Trust ceased to be a trust and became liable for rents and rates amounting to Ksh. 1,069,634,990.
The Committee Chairperson, Senator Karungo, questioned the Governor regarding why the County Government of Kajiado charged rates and rent for 5,871 plots instead of the two parcels of land. In response, the Kajiado County Executive for Finance, Economic Planning, and ICT explained that the county enforces revenue collection through the Finance Act, which requires individuals and entities to pay taxes annually. Failure to pay taxes results in penalties.
