Kenya Probes Alleged Fake Titles on Lamu Refinery Land
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The Kenyan government has launched investigations into alleged fraudulent titles issued on land earmarked for the Lamu refinery, saying the parcel is held under a single mother title by the Kenya Ports Authority.
The Kenyan government has launched investigations into alleged fraudulent titles issued on land earmarked for the Lamu refinery, with officials saying prosecutions are expected soon.
Government Spokesperson Charles Owino said the land was acquired by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and that families living on the site were compensated before the property was consolidated under a mother title. Speaking to journalists in Kakamega, he said about 90 families who occupied the area when the port was being established received Sh1.4 billion in compensation.
Owino said the land was subsequently transferred to KPA and a mother title issued, making it impossible for fresh titles to be legitimately created on the same parcel without subdivision. "There's a team that is investigating the matter and in a very short time you will see people getting charged for fraud," he said, insisting that records on the acquisition and compensation were available.
The government said it is confident of proceeding with the refinery on the basis that the land was legally acquired, and that any Kenyan who was not compensated would be compensated. Owino said the project, which broke ground on 30 September, should not be overshadowed by the land dispute, citing its economic benefits.
He said the refinery is expected to generate more than Sh4 billion annually and lift Kenya's foreign direct investment, currently about Sh3.1 billion, to over Sh7 billion. It is also expected to generate about 1,000 megawatts of electricity, with surplus power supplied to the national grid, and to produce by-products for local tyre and plastics manufacturing.