Charity Ngilu asks EACC to trace owner of disputed Sh8b Karen land

Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu.

NAIROBI, KENYA: Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu has now invited the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate and identify the real owner of a disputed Sh8 billion land in Karen. In a letter to EACC chairman Mumo Matemu, Ngilu said her attention was drawn to media reports and a letter from lawyer Cecil Miller claiming illegal occupants had invaded the disputed land, which is subject to an ongoing case.

“These reports from the media and the law firm cast a very dark shadow on the work of the ministry and land transactions at large. There are allegations of impropriety and unlawful activities. Following these reports and with a view of establishing the true ownership of this land, I invite your team to undertake a thorough investigation into the matter,” Ngilu’s letter to Matemu read.

Ngilu’s move is a contrast to an affidavit sworn and filed in court by Deputy Land Registrar Geoffrey Swanya Birundu to the effect that the land belongs to Jos Konzolo’s Telsource.com.

Birundu said Konzolo purchased the land from John Kamau Mugo on October 21, 2005. The Cabinet secretary has also denied disobeying court orders stopping any activity in the property until a matter filed in court is heard.

Ngilu has further denied claims her Personal Assistant Mary Ndunga supervised the land’s take-over in spite of the court order. She challenged the lawyer to reveal the names of top state officers involved.