Kisumu governor Anyang Nyong'o speaks as he presided distribution of over 500 wheelchairs, clutches walking canes and walking frames to his constituents from all the Kisumu 32 wards.[Michael Mute, Standard]
CoG: 90pc of land for housing projects lack title deeds
National
By
Antony Gitonga
| Nov 22, 2025
More than 90 per cent of land set aside for the affordable housing programme does not have title deeds, a situation that exposes the project to legal challenges in the future.
According to the Council of Governors (CoG), of the 540 acres handed to the government by counties, 486 acres did not have title deeds.
The council has criticised the national government for forcing counties into the programme without meeting the agreed terms.
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o said the government, through the National Lands Commission, must regularise and expedite the issuance of title deeds to individual county governments, who are trustees of the land.
Prof Nyong’o said the transfer of the land by counties to the government for affordable housing had failed to follow legal procedures as stipulated by various legal frameworks.
Speaking during the CoG meeting in Naivasha, Nyong’o said the governors were demanding that 30 per cent of the units be allocated to the individual counties for their residents.
“More than 90 per cent of the land handed to the national government by counties for affordable housing does not have title deeds, and this is very worrying,” he said.
He called on the Affordable Housing Board to engage the counties to ensure adequate budgeting for supporting infrastructure, including water, sewerage systems, markets, and link roads.
On his part, CoG Chair Mohammed Abddullahi said the governors had agreed to waive the approval fee for the housing projects, which will further be subjected to the individual county assemblies for final approval.
He said the move aimed to lower the cost of units for deserving homeowners, adding that the council’s resolutions will be presented at the upcoming affordable housing summit.
Responding to queries from governors, Housing PS Charles Hinga said the government had zero-rated stamp duties for homeowners, reducing the previous four per cent to lower the cost of units.
Hinga concurred with the CoG to subject all housing projects to the county assemblies in line with established law, allowing residents of individual counties to have their input before construction begins.
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