Union in plea to State over recovered assets

By Luke Anami

Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) is demanding assets that were repossessed by the Ministry of Lands handed back to the giant union.

"We wish to thank the ministry for enabling the union recover a number of its assets. But while we applaud the decision, we wish to request the ministry to hand over what they have repossessed," Kennedy Were, the union’s first national trustee told the The Standard On Saturday.

Investigations

Its officials are also demanding that three senior civil servants – one working at the Treasury and the other two at the Office of the President – be investigated over the sale of a building in Nairobi’s Central Business District.

Following the union’s ban in 1980 its assets were forcibly handed over to the Kenya Civil Servants Welfare Association. However, most of the union’s properties were grabbed and sold prompting the reconstituted union to begin a recovery plan.

Were said following the lifting of its ban in 2004, the union began recovering the assets that included buildings, vehicles, and land.

While a number of assets, including prime plots have been recovered, others are still subject of court disputes.

"Plots bought for the purpose of constructing houses for civil servants are still under dispute. However, the Homa Bay building on Plot LR 1432/56 has been recovered and we urge the Ministry of Lands to hand it over to us," Were said.

Local judicial process

Were said the union has asked Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and the Secretary to the Cabinet, Francis Muthaura to intervene for speedy recovery of the assets.

"We are informed that so far more than ten plots have been recovered, but none has been handed over to us," Were, who is seeking another term in office explained.

The properties include a plot in Coast, which is still a matter of discussion with squatters who have since settled on the land.

Were revealed that soon the Union will bid to buy a number of properties, including Ufundi Co-op Plaza, which houses the union’s offices.

"We wish to inform our members that part of our mission is to recover assets. Once the assets are recovered there is a need to discuss the way forward on how to make use of them by looking at the welfare of union members," Were explained.