The ownership of Kiambu National Polytechnic’s land has been a raising issue. It has drawn attention from the National Assembly Committee on Education. The polytechnic was established in 1971 under the leadership of the late President Jomo Kenyatta. It originally occupied 200 acres of land acquired through community contributions. Over time, however, the institution’s land was reduced to 70 acres. The title deed is currently held by the National Treasury.
The controversy revolves around the Board of Trustees. They were initially set up to hold the land in trust for the public. Legal provisions, such as the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act of 2013, mandate that all public TVET assets should be managed by their Boards of Governors. Yet, the Board of Trustees continues to control the land. This has caused concern among Members of Parliament (MPs) and other stakeholders.
During a recent inspection tour, MPs demanded clarity on the land’s ownership, title deeds, and valuation. They questioned the location of the original title deed, which remains with the Board of Trustees. They also criticized the governance structure that allows trustees to hold public land meant for the polytechnic. Gatundu North MP Njoroge Kururia and Mandera South MP Haro Abdul pointed out inconsistencies in the land’s management. They called for transparency and adherence to legal requirements.
“We need to see the mother title. What we have seen here is a lease. The land was originally freehold. So where is the original title deed today?” asked Gatundu North MP Njoroge Karuria.
“The fact that the original title is still held by trustees is very telling. It’s clear the land is not in the hands of this institution,” added Mandera South Abdul Haro.
Principal Sammy Waititu explained the situation. The National Treasury holds the institution’s lease, but the original title deed was not transferred to the polytechnic. “In 2017, the then president directed that the land be officially handed over to the institution. As a result, we now have 70 acres with the lease held by the National Treasury. However, the original title remains with the Board of Trustees,” said the principal.
