State House Comptroller Katoo ole Metito has revealed that large portions of land belonging to State Houses and State Lodges across the country have been grabbed, complicating ongoing renovation and restoration plans.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Metito told MPs that the government is working to repossess encroached land on a case-by-case basis.
100 Acres Recovered in Kakamega
Metito disclosed that the government has already recovered 100 acres of grabbed land in Kakamega County, adding that the next focus will be reclaiming property in Nakuru and Kisumu.
He explained that the widespread encroachment has significantly hampered renovation efforts at various State Houses and Lodges.
“Almost all these State Lodges and State Houses… their land was really encroached, so it is a process. We are trying one by one. Even the Eldoret one we did, we had to repossess it from the club,” Metito told the committee.
Security Concerns Raised by MPs
Members of Parliament also raised alarm over the construction of multi-storey buildings near State Houses and Lodges, warning that such developments pose potential security risks.
Lawmakers questioned how private developers were allowed to put up tall structures adjacent to high-security government premises, urging tighter controls to safeguard the integrity of the facilities.
Ongoing Repossession Efforts
Metito acknowledged that hundreds of acres in different counties are currently in the wrong hands, describing the recovery process as gradual but ongoing.
The revelations come amid broader efforts by the government to audit and restore public land linked to key state installations.
