The Acting Managing Director of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Samuel Maina, has raised concerns about the ownership of the land on which the national broadcaster’s headquarters sits, opposite the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi, after an audit report revealed that the land is not registered under KBC’s name, casting doubt on its ownership.
Maina disclosed this information while appearing before the Public Investments Committee on Social Services Administration and Agriculture in Parliament. The committee sought answers regarding the ownership of the 40 parcels of land owned by the State Corporation and questioned why only eight title deeds had been acquired.
Navakholo MP Emanuel Wangwe, the committee chair, expressed concern about the lack of titles and the uncertain ownership status of KBC’s land, stating that these revelations posed a threat to government land.
Responding to the committee’s questions, Maina assured lawmakers that KBC is actively working to secure titles for many of its land parcels. He mentioned that certain properties, such as the Jamuhuri, Meru, and Nyambene parcels of land, are already well secured, with fencing and police protection.
However, he acknowledged that KBC is currently facing land ownership disputes with squatters who have encroached on their land parcels in Nyali and Komarock, measuring 23 acres and 1200 acres, respectively.
Maina also mentioned a legal dispute with Housing Finance over the Sauti House land in Mombasa, which was partly sold to them.
When questioned about land utilization, Maina explained that KBC had been leasing parcels of land in Kitale for agricultural activities at a rate of Kshs 12,000 per acre, as well as in Morania in Meru County at Kshs 38,000 per acre.
The parliamentary committee further inquired about KENGEN’s failure to return generators valued at Kshs 29 million, which had been loaned from KBC. In response, Maina stated that the Corporation’s board of directors had approved a write-off for the loans. However, the committee contested this decision, citing the Public Procurement and Management (Pfm) Act’s requirement for National Treasury approval for a write-off.
Consequently, the committee requested that Maina return to KBC’s Board of Management for further clarification on these matters.
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