Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja disclosed that 44 out of the 64 police stations in Nairobi County do not have title deeds, raising concerns over land ownership, possible encroachment and the security of critical government installations.
The revelation sparked concern among senators, who questioned how such an important arm of government could be functioning on land without proper ownership documents.
Kanja appeared before the committee to address a range of security and administrative matters affecting the police service.
However, the issue of land ownership quickly emerged as one of the most alarming findings in the report.
The Inspector General explained that the lack of title deeds has left many stations vulnerable to land disputes, encroachment by private developers, and possible legal battles that could disrupt operations.
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He noted that some stations were established decades ago before formal land registration processes were streamlined, while others sit on public land that has never been formally transferred to the police service.
“This is a serious issue that requires urgent intervention from relevant government agencies,” Kanja told the committee.
Senators demanded immediate action, warning that the absence of title deeds could compromise public security if police stations are dragged into court disputes or threatened with eviction.
Members of the committee called on the Ministry of Lands and the Interior Ministry to work together to fast-track the issuance of ownership documents for all affected stations.
The report comes amid growing concern over public institutions losing land to private developers or individuals through fraudulent acquisitions and weak documentation.
Analysts say the findings highlight deeper systemic failures in land administration and the management of public assets in Kenya.
If left unresolved, the situation could not only affect service delivery but also expose taxpayers to huge losses should the government be forced into compensation or relocation arrangements.
The Senate Committee is now expected to push for a comprehensive audit of all police land across the country to establish the scale of the problem beyond Nairobi.
The disclosure has ignited debate among Kenyans, with many questioning how critical security installations could remain undocumented for years without urgent government action.
As pressure mounts, attention now shifts to the government’s next move in securing land ownership for the affected police stations before the issue escalates further.
