The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued a statement clarifying reports about the loss of a title deed, a day after it announced the loss of the grant title for its plot.
KNEC had, in a public notice on Tuesday, July 1, announced the loss of the grant title for its plot identified as LR. No. 209/6900.
“The public is hereby notified that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has lost the grant title for its plot LR. No. 209/6900,” read part of the notice.
However, KNEC on Wednesday clarified that the title is neither for its headquarters in South C nor for the Dennis Pritt land.
KNEC clarifies loss of title deed
According to the examination body, the issue is an old case regarding a piece of land in Kileleshwa.
“The Ministry of Lands advised they cannot replace the title without exhausting all avenues of search and recovery, including this gazette notice,” KNEC clarified Tuesday’s notice.
The council urged anyone who may come across the lost document to return it to their offices located in South C, off Mombasa Road in Nairobi, or to hand it over at the nearest police station.
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KNEC added that individuals who may wish to send the document by mail may use the postal address P.O. Box 73598-00200.
The grant title confirms the council’s rights over the land, which was previously owned by the government.
In 2022, the council shifted its headquarters to Mitihani House in South C after 35 years of construction.
The move aimed to enhance the efficiency of administering national examinations such as the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) while also reducing operational costs.
Previously, the council operated from at least six different locations in Nairobi, including Dennis Pritt Road and Industrial Area.
The new office complex cost approximately Ksh3 billion, significantly surpassing the initial budget of Ksh248 million due to changes in contractors over the years.
Missing title deeds
The absence of a land title for the property now places the council among several government agencies flagged by the Auditor General for holding land without formal proof of ownership, making them vulnerable to land grabbing and possible legal disputes.
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In her report for the 2023/2024 financial year, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu highlighted that numerous public institutions lack title deeds for critical properties, including Nyayo House and Harambee House.
In 2024, a dispute arose between the government and the Kenya African National Union (KANU) Party over ownership of the land on which the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) sits.
The disclosure on the missing title deed also comes at a time when the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has intensified efforts to reclaim grabbed public land.
The EACC has identified public land grabbing as a major vice, noting that those who benefit often launch strong legal battles to retain illegally acquired titles.
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