BY JEFF OTIENO

Kisumu lands office is engulfed in corruption with notorious fraudsters operating as land agents becoming millionaires overnight, thanks to the prevailing conspiracy and bad blood among the top hierarchy.

It’s the only office in the land where hardly a receipt is given when you pay for stamp duty during land transaction.

For instance a land which attracts a duty of 4% on a value of Kshs 400,000 will generate 16,000 Kshs is allegedly shared without the government getting a penny.

Three weeks ago the said notorious lands office was completely paralyzed for several days when one of the officials flew to Nairobi on official duty and locked the seal in his drawer in a desperate bid to ensure that no Title Deed is issued in his absence.

The enraged officer had confided to one of his juniors that his immediate deputy had formed a habit of entertaining a cartel of agents who hardly pay stamp duty to the exchequer and therefore that was the only option.

Agents said to be enjoying good rapport from the said notorious lady who hardly sits in the office but prefers exclusive joints negotiating for kickbacks, reacted with fury and have threatened one of the officials known for his stringent management with transfer.

Transfer of lands requires that consent be sought from Land Control Board and a fee of Kshs 1000 is paid. The Board normally sits once a month or at least elapse of six weeks and those with urgent cases pay a special Land Board Fee of Kshs 5000 which is never receipted and goes directly to the pockets of the entrenched cartel which has been operating with glee.

On average there are about fifteen to twenty applicants and the money should be paid to the secretary to the Lands Board.

Kisumu Lands Office has become notorious for effecting dubious Land dealings. Recently a well known wealthy Asian was conned over 18 M for a land next to the airport only to realize it was a police post which was destroyed during Post Election Violence.

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