A recent report presented to the Nairobi City County Assembly in early December revealed that the title deed for Pangani Estate, a key site for Nairobi’s affordable housing initiative, has gone missing. The title deed pertains to a 5.2-acre parcel of land, raising concerns just months after a similar issue involving the missing title deed for Jevanjee Estate.
County Executive officials have yet to account for the status of the Pangani Estate title deed or verify its ownership. According to the report, the county has failed to explain who holds the deed or provide any proof of its whereabouts.
“The status of ownership and the registration details of the title deed for the estate remain unclear. The county executive is unable to provide an explanation about the document’s custody,” the report states.
In April 2023, the county assembly authorized Tecnofin Kenya Limited to secure a loan from KCB, using the Pangani Estate title deed as collateral to finance the development. However, despite this approval, the private developer has reportedly refused to share project details with the county or comply with assembly summons.
While the county administration supported using the title deed as collateral, the process was halted by the Environment and Lands Court in Milimani after several pressure groups filed petitions.
The Pangani Housing project was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta on June 30, 2020, as part of the government’s affordable housing agenda. However, the recent disappearance of the title deed raises serious concerns about the project’s management and accountability, particularly regarding housing initiatives in Nairobi.
A similar controversy arose earlier when Jabavu Limited, the developer behind the Jevanjee Estate housing project, was accused of using the estate’s title deed to secure a Sh. 1.9 billion loan from National Bank. The company denied the claims, asserting that the project was not stalled and was 50% complete. Jabavu Limited clarified that construction was ongoing, despite delays caused by land acquisition issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and rising steel prices due to the Ukraine war. The project is expected to be completed by September 2025, with occupancy slated to begin in September 2026.
“We have been made aware of media reports suggesting that our Jevanjee Housing Estate project in Ngara has stalled and that we used the county government’s title deed to secure funding. We wish to clarify that construction continues, despite initial delays,” the firm stated.
