The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered public land valued at Sh100 million that had been seized by grabbers in Machakos town.
EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said the land measuring approximately one acre belonging to the Ministry of Housing and leased to various government institutions including the judiciary had been grabbed by land cartels.
“We have successfully recovered the property and returned it to the government, “said Ngumbi.
The spokesperson spoke in Machakos during a training for journalists from lower eastern conducted by the commission to enable the scribes to effectively participate in unearthing corruption and other malpractices relating to the governance of the country.
He noted that the seized land is among other properties that EACC is trying to recover from land grabbers in the region amounting to Sh1.2 billion.
“We are pursuing other properties that are currently in the hands of grabbers.
It is estimated that the value of government’s land and houses in the hands of cartels in Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties is over Sh1.2 billion,” he added.
Ngumbi said part of the properties include 13 plots for Kenya Prisons in Machakos, five acres of land valued at Sh300 million belonging to Seme Primary School and a Sh250 million property belonging to visually impaired persons in Kitui grabbed by a church.
He noted that land grabbing remains a big challenge in the country and disclosed that most government properties especially those belonging to the Ministry of Housing in various parts of the country are in the hands of private persons.
“The land is taken by grabbers in collusion with corrupt land officials. Cumulatively these government plots are more than what the government requires for the affordable housing project, “added Ngumbi.
He however noted that many Kenyans who had grabbed public land were willing to settle the matter outside court cutting down on costs and time on litigation.
“The EACC welcomes Alternative Dispute Resolution on matters relating to grabbed public land, “said Ngumbi.
He appealed to anyone occupying public land to come forward and enter into negotiations with the commission and voluntarily return what they have grabbed instead of waiting for the lengthy and costly litigation in court.
“We are also putting on notice corrupt land officials and especially registrars who re -allocate what has been recovered to unscrupulous people,” said the spokesperson.
Ngumbi said besides recovery of public land the commission was carrying out investigations in matters related to crime for purposes of prosecuting those culpable.
“We have cases touching on County Executive Committee Members and County Assemblies in each of the three counties. The cases are at various stages with some pending review by the Director of Public Prosecution while others are in court, “he added.
He pointed out conflict of interest was the leading cause of graft in devolved units and underscored the need for tough laws to curb the vice.
“Conflict of interest in the county governments has been the bedrock of all the graft cases being handled by the commission especially top government officials including governors who do business with the government by allocating tenders to family members, relatives and their associates, “said the spokesperson.
Ngumbi said a total of 10 governors, both former and current are facing corruption charges mainly attributed to conflict of interest.
“That’s why you seen governors being charged alongside their families and associates, “he added.
The spokesperson however expressed his concerns on the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023 saying the proposals made by the Senate will cripple the war on corruption.
He said the changes being proposed by the Senate will have far reaching implications on the fight against graft if fully adopted.
Among the notable changes in the bill that Ngumbi said will cripple the fight against corruption include proposals by the Senate to delete the provisions that gives EACC the mandate to implement the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023.
“Senate proposes to have EACC removed as an implementation agency and have the responsibility given to private entities. It is unconstitutional because conflict of interest is one of the issues under chapter six of the constitution relating to the conduct of state officers where EACC has been vested with the mandate and the responsibility to implement, “he added.
The spokesperson also noted that the Senate proposes to amend the existing laws by repealing the existing provision that makes conflict of interest a criminal offence.
“It is a dangerous move if the bill becomes law. Conflict of interest is the main causes of scandals in the country including the ten governors already in court, “said Ngumbi.
He called on the national assembly to shoot down the proposals saying the bill if passed will claw back the gains made in the fight against corruption.
He called on county assemblies to conduct their oversight role in the devolved units to curb graft.
“County Assemblies have failed Kenyans for not doing oversight. Infact majority of the Members of the County Assembly collude with the executive to steal public funds, “added Ngumbi.
By Roselyne Kavoo
