A new audit has revealed that vast tracts of land owned by public universities in Kenya are left exposed to encroachment, mismanagement, and potential grabbers.
Among the most striking cases is a mystery farmer controlling about 2,000 acres of Egerton University land for maize farming, with the “beneficial owner not known and the value not disclosed,” according to the report.
The findings, detailed in a recent Auditor-General’s report, show that several universities hold billions of shillings worth of land and assets without proper documentation to confirm ownership.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu said that at least 12 institutions lacked title deeds, lease agreements, or transfer documents for properties collectively valued at over Sh19.5 billion, leaving them highly vulnerable.
“Several institutions did not have title deeds, transfer documents, or other legal records to confirm ownership of land, buildings, or intellectual property reflected in their financial statements,” Gathungu stated.
Egerton University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenyatta University, and South Eastern Kenya University are among the most affected institutions.
The audit covering the financial year ending June 30, 2024, noted that JKUAT leads the list with land valued at Sh16.6 billion, yet the title deed remains under the original owner’s name. Parcel LR No 13538, for instance, has never been formally transferred to the university, raising serious questions about legal ownership.
Kenyatta University reported 12.472 hectares of land worth Sh123.3 million that have already been encroached upon. Another parcel valued at Sh880,000 also lacks proper documentation, leaving the university exposed to squatters and illegal developers. South Eastern Kenya University is missing legal papers for land and intellectual property totaling Sh2 billion.
Other institutions are similarly affected: Turkana University College and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology each lack title deeds for land worth Sh80 million. Laikipia University has unsupported land records valued at Sh547 million, while Murang’a University of Technology reported 18 parcels worth Sh54 million that have been encroached upon or “hived off” from the main property.
The audit also highlighted broader failures in asset governance. Kenyatta University reportedly spent Sh229 million on maintenance at its Kigali campus without supporting documents, continued using fully depreciated assets without revaluation, and the University of Nairobi leased land without approval from the University Council, the Ministry of Education, or the National Treasury, violating public finance regulations.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology and Garissa University are hampered by outdated and uncommissioned ERP systems, affecting financial accountability. Pwani University has land worth Sh116.7 million under illegal encroachment with no eviction efforts, while Koitaleel Samoei University College has not valued land and buildings totaling Sh535 million.
The report paints a worrying picture of negligence and poor asset management in the higher education sector, leaving prime university land at risk of illegal acquisition or misuse.
