David Kimaiyo summons directors in Lamu land scam

Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.

Nairobi, Kenya: Directors of the 22 companies under investigation over alleged irregular acquisition of land in Lamu must record statements with police on Wednesday or risk arrest.

"Let me take this opportunity to summon all directors who have not recorded their statements to report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Headquarters in Nairobi on or before Wednesday August 13, 2014, without fail," said Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.

He said only the listed directors of Brick Investments Limited and Dynamic Trading Company Limited have recorded statements.

The listed directors of the two companies are the same. Sources said the two refused to divulge who the real owners of the land are but other sources said the land belongs to a prominent businessman based in Nairobi.

Mr Kimaiyo said they were yet to trace the directors of the other companies hence the need to summon them.

So far, 32 people, including officials from the Ministry of Lands, have recorded statements with the joint team investigating the matter.

"We will continue with investigations in collaboration with other Government agencies until all the culprits are brought to book," he said.

Detectives handling the case said they were yet to trace the directors of another company identified as Dynamic Trading Company Limited even though Vijay Kumar and Ankit Bhardwaj are listed as owners.

Another official said the company belongs to a senior politician in Government. Other sources said lawyers of the mentioned companies had contacted the investigations team, saying they were ready to face them.

The sources said they were faced with an uphill task after it emerged that some of the land belongs to top politicians in Government, security chiefs and powerful businessmen.

"Some of the listed directors are just proxies. The names behind them are bigger and it is the who's who of this Government," said our sources who sought anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Two companies that own land in the area have been linked to a top politician in the Government. Another parcel is linked to three top Government officials who include a Cabinet Secretary, two security chiefs, a female politician from Central region, a Mombasa politician and a Nairobi businessman.

The team has also questioned former Lands commissioner Zablon Mabea.