Mombasa & Eldoret – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has successfully recovered public land worth Ksh104 million in Mombasa following a landmark judgment delivered by Justice Stephen Kibunja of the Environment and Land Court.
The disputed parcel, originally belonging to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), was illegally acquired by a former Coast Province Physical Planner. Court findings confirmed that the land, part of a 538.6-acre block reserved for airport infrastructure, was unlawfully subdivided and allocated without a valid Physical Development Plan or formal application. Statutory fees were also ignored.
Justice Kibunja ordered the cancellation of the title deed, declaring that the land remained public property and that its private allocation was null and void. The EACC welcomed the ruling, which marks the end of a legal battle that began in 2009. A former Commissioner of Lands was also implicated in the scandal for allegedly aiding the unlawful transfer.
In a separate case, EACC is pursuing the recovery of another public parcel valued at Ksh200 million in Eldoret. The 3.44-acre plot, meant for government housing, was allegedly grabbed by a former Principal Secretary for Provincial Administration and National Security, in collusion with a company linked to a former Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner.
The Eldoret land, now under intense investigation, is believed to have been fraudulently transferred through a network involving senior government officials, including a former Commissioner of Lands, who is accused of breaching statutory and fiduciary duties.
EACC has reiterated its commitment to recovering all illegally acquired public assets, vowing to hold accountable those involved in historical land grabbing cases across the country.
