NAIROBI, Kenya –The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has repossessed 12 parcels of prime public land valued at Sh320 million in Kakamega and Bungoma, following a detailed investigation into illegal acquisitions involving government officials and private developers.
The land, originally earmarked for government housing projects, was officially handed back to public ownership after it emerged that it had been unlawfully transferred and exploited.
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EACC Western Regional Manager Eric Ngumbi revealed that some of the parcels had been fraudulently used to obtain bank loans with counterfeit title deeds.
“These parcels were fraudulently acquired and used by private developers to secure bank loans using forged title deeds,” he stated.
Ngumbi urged closer collaboration between the EACC and security agencies to combat graft, particularly in government institutions. “Bribery and graft remain the biggest barriers to efficient service to the people,” he added.
In addition to the 12 parcels recovered, the Commission is now investigating 56 more pieces of public land allegedly grabbed from various state bodies, including the Judiciary, Kenya Railways, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, the National Treasury, and the State Department for Housing.
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Western Regional Commissioner Samson Macharia supported the call for joint efforts among state agencies, encouraging local administrators to take lead roles in upholding accountability and curbing corruption.
The remarks were made during a high-level meeting in the region that brought together County Commissioners, DCI officials, police commanders, and other senior officers to strategize on reinforcing anti-corruption efforts and promoting public sector integrity.
