Thousands of residents of Kithimani and the larger Yatta Sub-County will now access land services closer to home following the official opening of the Kithimani Land Registry by Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki, marking another milestone in the Government’s agenda to decentralize public services and improve access to secure land ownership.
DP Kindiki, accompanied by Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Alice Wahome and Principal Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning Nixon Korir, also issued 1,300 title deeds to residents, giving families security of tenure and unlocking opportunities for investment and economic growth.
The establishment of the registry ends years of hardship for residents who were previously forced to travel to Machakos town to access land services, often spending more than KSh1,000 on transport for a single visit.
“This registry is about taking Government services to the people.
No Kenyan should travel long distances or incur unnecessary costs to access essential land services. We are making land administration more accessible, efficient and people-centred,” said Deputy President Prof. Kindiki.
The Cabinet Secretary said the new registry will serve approximately 235,000 land parcels, with all Kithimani land records now housed locally.
“Opening the Kithimani Lands Registry is another fulfilment of our promise to bring land services closer to wananchi. Faster access to services means greater efficiency, enhanced security of land records and improved service delivery,” said CS Wahome.
She added that the registry has commenced operations with 19 officers, with plans to deploy an additional 11 officers to meet growing demand. The registry will also administer 19 adjudication sections and 17 settlement schemes.
Principal Secretary Korir said decentralizing land administration remains central to the Ministry’s transformation agenda.
“Every new land registry brings us closer to a future where Kenyans can access timely, transparent and efficient land services without unnecessary travel or delays. Our focus remains on improving service delivery while accelerating issuance of title deeds across the country,” said PS Korir.
Yatta Member of Parliament Hon. Robert Basil Ngui welcomed the new facility, describing it as a long-awaited solution that will save residents both time and money while stimulating local economic development.
Gregory Mulwa ,one of the beneficiaries who received his title deed today, expressed his joy, saying the opening of the Kithimani Lands Registry has brought much-needed relief to residents. He noted that they previously had to travel all the way to Yatta to access land services, incurring significant transport costs, but can now receive the same services closer to home.
The joy was the same for ,Mr stephen ,Muthoka a resident of Matuu ,sating the move will now solve hundreds of problem for the locals who have been travelling for long distances to acquire land services for decades since independence.
The opening of the Kithimani Lands Registry is part of the Government’s nationwide programme to strengthen land administration by establishing registries closer to the people. Over the past year, the Ministry has opened new registries in Malindi, Mogotio, Kamwangi and Ol Kalou, significantly reducing the distance citizens travel to obtain land services.
The initiative complements ongoing land reforms, including the digitization of land records through Ardhisasa and the accelerated issuance of title deeds, aimed at enhancing tenure security, improving service delivery and supporting Kenya’s economic transformation.
