EACC Moves To Recover Public Land Worth Sh7 Billion In Nakuru And Kericho

NAKURU, Kenya, Dec 1 – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has vowed to address land-grabbing cases in a bid to recover over Sh7 billion worth of land allegedly grabbed in Nakuru and Kericho counties.

The commission’s Central Regional Manager Abraham Kemboi said over 60 parcels of land belonging to the government had been grabbed by private developers.

“If there is anything that has been sold to you which belongs to the government, it must be returned. We are investigating not less than 60 parcels of land. In the recent past, we were talking about 50 parcels but we have discovered they are going up,” he said.

The Commission said upon recovery of public land parcels in different parts of the country and reverting the same to the government, some corrupt land officials are colluding with new grabbers and illegally reallocating the land in exchange for huge bribes.

In Nakuru and Kericho Counties, for instance, property worth over Sh7.2 billion is allegedly said to have been grabbed.  

EACC records those investigations around Sh2 billion worth of the said properties have already been completed with cases under investigation amounting to about Sh5.1 billion of the total value.

“Public land parcels grabbed in Naivasha, Njoro and Karbanet are valued at Sh2,064,000,000…public land parcels grabbed in Karbanet, Nakuru and Kericho valued at Sh5,141,117,648.”

Kemboi who was accompanied by Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu highlighted a case where part of the land currently hosting the Governor and County Commissioner’s residences had been grabbed.

He said the land on which the County Commissioner’s Residence stands, which was initially 38 acres, is now four acres in size. The rest, he says has been taken over by private developers in collusion with land officials.

 “We have realized that even the governor’s residence is not safe. Someone has taken some portion of it…So those who imagine that they own titles on county commissioner’s residence, inform them that they have no land there,” he said.

In addition to the ongoing civil recovery suits, the Commission will pursue all the land officials involved and recommend prosecution for abuse of office and fraudulent acquisition of public property.