Tension has gripped real estate dealers who have not registered to the Real Estate Stakeholders Association (RESA) as they have cracked a whip on all illegal dealers.

They say they will expose all realtors who have not joined the association as they are majorly the cons and known fraudsters tainting bad image to the sector.

Speaking in an event that brought together RESA members, Chairperson Kinyua Wairatu has urged Kenyans not to be lured to buy land to realtors who are not registered in their association as they are mostly the notorious fraud firms.

RESA announced an ambitious campaign to expose land selling companies operating without proper certification. Wairatu stated that RESA aims to register over 2,000 companies by next year and vowed to combat fraudsters relentlessly to protect the reputation of legitimate businesses.

“From now on, we have declared war on all fraudsters. We will expose them without fear. We cannot allow someone to tarnish our hard-earned reputation,” Wairatu declared.

RESA is also advocating for one of its members to be appointed as the next Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development. Speaking in Nairobi, RESA members urged President William Ruto to select a candidate with a real estate background to tackle the industry’s critical issues effectively.

RESA Chairman Kinyua Wairatu emphasized the need for an experienced real estate professional in the role. He suggested Perminus Kariuki, RESA’s spokesperson, for the position, citing Kariuki’s deep understanding of the sector’s problems and potential solutions. Kariuki, the founder of Nyota Njema Real Estate Limited and a certified financial advisor, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Maseno University.

Stephen Kigathe, another RESA member, highlighted the significant tax contributions and infrastructure improvements made by the real estate sector, advocating Kariuki’s appointment as a reward for the industry’s contributions.