Kebele homes to get holding certificates

The Addis Ababa City Government Land Holding Registration and Information Agency is preparing holding certificates for Kebele Houses.
The City Administration is trying to make sure they know who owns each house so they have been registering private and public land holdings throughout Addis. They also have started registering the so-called Kebele houses that were nationalized in 1975 during the Derge government.
The agency already started gathering the necessary information in which demarcating the boundary based on the directives to give title deeds for kebele houses.
“The houses lacking title deeds have been a problem for the Agency because it is hard to prevent illegal activities,” says Liben Feyera, the agency’s communication director.
The Kebele houses are prone to corruption and illegal transfer. Corrupt officials would eliminate the record and transfer the homes to private owners, according to Liben.
The holding certificate is issued in the name of the Woreda administration office where the Kebele houses exist.
The agency is working on strict procedures preparing the certificate. They have a secret print and bar code. The agency is also pays attention to preparing the certificate and follows both officials and officers in charge closely.
From the registered 153, thousand Kebele houses in Addis Ababa, more than 26 thousand Kebele Houses that qualify for title deeds have been sent for certification. The highest number of residential houses are located in Addis Ketema sub-city while the lowest are in Bole sub city.
Kebele houses, were nationalized in 1975 during the Derge government and rented to citizens at the low price of 1birr and 50 cents to 18 birr per month. In most cases it is occupied by one family and can be transferred from one generation to the next. The houses are in very low physical quality, made out of mud and wood and are located in overcrowded areas.
According to the UN-HABITAT definition, 80 percent of Addis Ababa housing is a slum, and 70 percent of these homes are government-owned rental houses.
“The certification process will be finalized up to the end this fiscal year,” Liben added.