State cancels KenGen's controversial deal with Land Company

Interior Cabinet CS Joseph Nkaissery, PS Karanja Kibichio and Naivasha MP John Kihagi at Maella in Naivasha yesterday. The area has witnessed clashes over a land deal with KenGen. [PHOTO: Antony Gitonga/standard]

The Government has nullified the controversial acquisition of over 3,000 acres by Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) from Ng’ati farmers co-operative.

In a move meant to resolve a one-month long crisis that has rocked Maella in Naivasha, the Government said it would further investigate how the deal was carried out.

This development will affect plans by the company to explore geothermal power from the 3,093 acres, which it acquired two years ago. This emerged yesterday when Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery visited the troubled area of Maella accompanied by senior government officers.

Nkaissery noted that the deal was shrouded in controversy, adding the members of the land buying company were short changed.

“We are told that the land was sold for Sh505 million, but members only received Sh249 million and we are asking where the rest went to,” he said.

The CS directed Rift Valley CID boss to summon the five directors of the land buying company to record a statement on how the deal was carried out.

Probe Transaction

“The five should say how the land was sold behind the back of the members and if there is any irregularity, they should be charged in court,” he said, adding: “I have further directed that all the closed schools be opened with immediate effect.”

Naivasha MP John Kihagi termed the deal between KenGen and the directors of the land buying company as questionable.

He called on the National Land Commission to help investigate how the transaction was carried out, adding that the National Assembly was also following up on the issue.

“Elections of this land buying company have been postponed on three occasions by government officers in unclear circumstances,” he said.

Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu accused senior government officers of benefiting from the land, whose membership had risen from 581 to over 800.

He supported calls to arrest all the directors of Ng’ati, adding they should be forced to return all the cash they received from KenGen.

“Every DC and other senior government staff who has worked here has a share of this land and they should be investigated,” he said.