- EACC has sued to recover 7.6 acres of Kenya Prisons land in Kisumu allegedly acquired illegally by private developers.
- The disputed land is valued at Ksh790 million excluding developments and Ksh4.3 billion including developments.
- The Commission seeks cancellation of 92 land titles and restoration of the land to the Kenya Prisons Service.
Hundreds of private developers are staring at losses amounting to millions of shillings after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) commenced civil proceedings to recover 7.6 acres of public land in Milimani, Kisumu City.
The land was allegedly illegally excised from property belonging to the Kenya Prisons Service and converted into private ownership.
According to EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud, the disputed land is currently valued at approximately Ksh 790 million excluding developments, and an estimated Ksh 4.3 billion including developments. It forms part of an original 16 acre parcel that had been reserved for the Kenya Prisons Service for staff housing and regional offices.
Speaking at the site of the parcel in question in Kisumu, the CEO said the recovery action follows a petition lodged by the Kenya Prisons Service.
Although the land was initially associated with the establishment of an educational institution, Mohamud said the intended public purpose was later abandoned and the land was instead redirected for private residential development.
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Subsequently, he said, the land was subdivided into 92 parcels and transferred to private individuals.
“The area is now fully developed and is commonly known as Winam Estate, also referred to as Grace Ogot Estate,” Mohamud said.
Consequently, Mr Mohamud said, the Commission has moved to court seeking cancellation of all resultant titles, declarations that the entire chain of transactions was illegal, fraudulent and null and void, and restoration of the land to the Kenya Prisons Service.
As part of the first phase of the recovery process, the official said the Commission has filed nine asset recovery suits before the Environment and Land Court in Kisumu, targeting parcels within the disputed 7.6 acre portion.
Mohamud said the Commission notes that this matter reflects a broader pattern in which public land reserved for essential government functions has been unlawfully diverted into private ownership through abuse of office, fraudulent documentation and manipulation of land allocation processes.
The EACC, he said, reiterates that public land is held in trust for the people of Kenya and must only be allocated and utilised in strict compliance with the Constitution and applicable land laws.
Mohamud said those who acquired public land in one way or another will ultimately lose the assets.
Concerning the prison land in question, he said it was originally meant for the construction of the regional headquarters and staff houses.
Mohamud said the Commission has in the past helped recover parcels of land belonging to Kenya Railways, county governments and other government agencies.
Also present were Kenya Prisons Service Commissioner General Peter Aranduh, Kisumu County commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo, and the county executive committee member in charge of lands, Onyango Konyango.
The county commissioner urged the public to carry out due diligence before acquiring public land.
By Fredrick Odiero
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