Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu.
An audit report has revealed massive land grabbing in public universities with properties valued at more than Sh20 billion at risk.
The report shows that several public universities lack title deeds, lease agreements or transfer documents.
Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, in her latest report covering the financial year ending 2024, paints a grim picture. It states that some parcels of land belonging to public universities have been encroached upon.
“Records show that at least eight public universities do not have title deeds, transfer documents or other legal documents to confirm ownership of land valued at about Sh20 billion,” states the audit report.
At Egerton University in Njoro, Nakuru County, a “mysterious farmer” has taken over about 2,000 acres that had been set aside for agricultural activities.
Egerton University Njoro Campus main gate
While appearing before the National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education on September 4, 2025, Egerton University Vice-Chancellor Prof Isaac Kibwage appealed to MPs to intervene and help the institution to reclaim the land.
He said that an influential individual had illegally taken more than 2,000 acres belonging to the university using false ownership documents. The VC said that the university had intended to use the land for income generating activities to supplement government funding. The committee pledged to help reclaim the land.
The report also shows that 2.472 hectares of land valued at Sh124.1 million belonging to Kenyatta University had been encroached upon. The university cannot trace the title deeds, which are reportedly in the hands of unknown individuals and cartels.
The main entrance of Murang’a University of Technology.
Murang’a University of Technology has also been affected. Eighteen parcels of land belong to the institution valued at Sh54 million have been hived off. Hostels, shops and residential houses have been built on the land. Originally, the university owned about 82 acres, but part of the land has been grabbed by private developers.
And Turkana University College, which has land valued at Sh80 million, does not have ownership documents.
"The university lacks a title deed for the land valued at Sh80 million. The title deed and other ownership documents were not provided for audit and verification. This means the land could have been grabbed by cartels or individuals," the report states.
Laikipia University in Nyahururu town is similarly affected. The university does not have documents for its land valued at Sh547 million, while the South Eastern Kenya University cannot trace documents for parcels of land worth Sh2 billion.
The report also shows that land valued at Sh16.6 billion (LR No 13538) has not been transferred to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kiambu County.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Juja.
The Auditor-General warned that public universities are facing a growing crisis over land and asset management.
The report highlighted systemic weaknesses in asset governance. It showed that Kenyatta University allegedly spent Sh229 million on maintenance at its Kigali Campus without supporting records, while continuing to use fully depreciated assets without revaluation.
Ms Gathungu’s report shows that the University of Nairobi leased land without approvals from the University Council, Ministry of Education, or National Treasury which is a violation of public finance rules.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo Town, Siaya County.
The audit report states that Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology and Garissa University rely on outdated ERP systems which reduces transparency and accountability. And at Pwani University in Kilifi County, the report shows there is a risk of illegal occupation of land worth Sh116.7 million.
The Auditor-General has asked universities to secure title deeds and proper ownership documents to prevent further land grabbing.
"The absence of title deeds and proper records exposes public land to grabbing by private developers or illegal settlers,” Ms Gathungu said.
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