The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has successfully recovered a parcel of public land in Kakamega Municipality valued at Ksh20 million, marking a significant victory in the fight against illegal acquisition of government property.
The property, which belongs to the Ministry of Housing, had been irregularly allocated to a private individual, contravening its intended purpose. According to court documents, the land was originally part of Kakamega Municipality trust land reserved for the construction of civil servants’ housing.
In a judgment delivered on August 6, Justice Peter Mutua ruled that the parcel could not be lawfully allocated to private individuals, declaring any lease or title over the property null and void. The court further directed the cancellation of all illegal entries in the land register and ordered Mr. Peter Muhatia Alubale, the first defendant in the case, to surrender vacant possession to the government.
Justice Mutua also issued a permanent injunction barring any transactions or dealings involving the land, except for its return to the Ministry of Housing.
EACC welcomed the ruling, describing it as a critical step in protecting public assets from unlawful appropriation.
“This decisive ruling not only restores the land to the rightful owner, but also sends a strong message that public resources are not for private grabbing,” the commission said in a statement.
The anti-graft body noted that this case is part of a broader crackdown on the misappropriation of public property. Currently, the EACC is pursuing more than 400 cases in courts across the country, seeking the forfeiture of assets estimated to be worth Ksh50 billion that are suspected to have been corruptly acquired.
Land grabbing has been one of the persistent forms of corruption in Kenya, with public parcels, including those reserved for schools, hospitals, and government housing, often targeted by individuals and cartels. The EACC’s recent court victory is expected to reinforce ongoing efforts to reverse such illegal allocations and protect land meant for public benefit.
This recovery in Kakamega adds to a growing list of reclaimed properties, underscoring the commission’s commitment to safeguarding taxpayer-funded resources.
