Kenya, April 9 -- The United States government has issued a stern warning about the escalating problem of fraudulent title deeds in Kenya, cautioning that the trend could tarnish the country's international reputation and deter foreign investment.
The statement, released earlier today, highlights growing concerns over land ownership disputes that have increasingly plagued Kenya's real estate sector.
In a briefing to the press, a U.S. State Department spokesperson described the proliferation of fake title deeds as a "serious threat" to Kenya's economic stability, pointing to reports of widespread corruption and mismanagement within the country's land registry systems.
"Kenya has made strides in positioning itself as an investment hub in East Africa, but this issue risks undermining investor confidence and long-term growth," the spokesperson said.
The U.S. government's remarks come amid a spike in documented cases of forged land documents, which have led to legal battles, evictions, and financial losses for both local and international stakeholders.
Authorities in Kenya have yet to respond officially to the statement, though the Ministry of Lands has previously acknowledged challenges in digitising and securing land records.
Analysts suggest that the warning could prompt renewed pressure on the Kenyan government to address systemic flaws in land governance.
With billions of dollars in foreign direct investment at stake, the issue is likely to dominate discussions in both diplomatic and economic circles in the coming weeks.
The U.S. has pledged to support efforts to combat fraud in Kenya but emphasised that decisive action must come from Nairobi.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.