EACC recovers Sh100m public land in Nakuru
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has made a major breakthrough in the recovery of a Sh100 million parcel of land in Nakuru county.
EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi (pictured) who visited the site said that the 0.22 acre parcel of land on the city’s Moi Road which hosts dozens of businesses belongs to the public.
“The land was set aside for establishment of government utilities in 1984. However, an individual grabbed the land in 1994 in collusion with rogue government officers,” said Ngumbi.
The Anti-graft body moved to court in 2021 and sued four parties: Shadrack Cherogoe, administrators of the estate of Said Azubedi (now deceased), Phelsey Enterprises and Wilson Gachanja.
Court documents indicate Cherogoe through his company applied to be allocated the land in 1994 and was illegally approved in 1995 and a lease title issued in Azubedi’s name in 1996.
On April 2, 2024, Justice Anthony Ombwayo declared that the allocation and issuance of the lease was and subsequent transfer to other parties as null and void.
“A permanent injunction be and is hereby issued restraining Phelsey Enterprises by themselves, agents and servants from charging, transferring, leasing, wasting, entering or developing the parcel in any manner,” ordered Ombwayo.
Alternative justice
Following the orders, EACC has written to the Lands registrar directing him to cancel the title even as the commission embarks on the process of enforcing vacant occupation of the land.
Ngumbi described Nakuru as one of the major hot spots for cases of land grabbing where government land and other properties worth Sh4 billion have been recovered.
“Property worth Sh3.8 billion was recovered through the alternative justice system while the rest were recovered through courts. We still have cases of property worth more than Sh9 billion pending in court,” said Ngumbi.
The commission warned the public institutions said to be reckless in handing public property exposing them to grabbers that they will be dealt with firmly.
