Senate queries Sh102m land buy

Kericho governor Paul Chepkwony.This was on 19th September 2019 at Council of governors office in Delta house in Westlands Nairobi.[Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

The anti-corruption agency has been asked by a Senate committee to investigate how Kericho County government acquired a 10-acre parcel from Unilever Kenya.

According to the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC), the manner in which the county paid Sh102 million for the land was suspect.

The committee’s concerns have been exacerbated by an Auditor General report that flagged the delay in issuance of the title deed despite the county having settled the full amount.

“The financial statements show the county government paid Sh102,256,000 through the National Land Commission (NLC) for the land. However, the county did not produce, for audit verification, the title deed despite full payment being made,” reads the Auditor General’s 2017/18 report.

CPAIC chairman Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay) said his team had been analysing land transactions involving the county government.

He said in some instances, there was evidence that some parcels the county administration acquired were overvalued.

“This seems to be another case where the county government, through NLC, acquired land without proper documentation,” said Mr Kajwang’.

Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony (pictured), however defended his administration, saying all legal processes were followed when the land was bought from Unilever.

“Our understanding is that Unilever is a private entity. If the land belonged to the public, we could not have paid for it,” said Prof Chepkwony.

He was hard pressed to defend the cost of the land, with senators arguing that Sh102 million was on the higher side.

Kajwang’ said if the 10 acres went for Sh102 million, then an acre cost Sh10 million, which was unacceptably high.

Chepkwony countered the assertions, claiming that the county acquired the land after seeking advice from NLC.

The governor said the land would be used for construction of a water treatment plant.