Claims of corruption in Kisii demolition exercise

Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi took to task County Director Physical Planning Patrick Achoki over issuance of illegal development plans. (Courtesy)

The anti-corruption agency is investigating claims that the ongoing demolitions in Kisii town has been infiltrated by cartels.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) South Nyanza Director David Kangara said some Government officers were jeopardising efforts to reclaim riparian and grabbed public land.

The demolition is being carried out by a multi-agency team comprising officials from the national and county governments.

Kangara pointed out that some Government officers were fraudulently marking some the buildings.

“We all aspire to have a clean and organised Kisii town but all our efforts will be put in jeopardy by a few corrupt officers,” said Kangara.

At the same time Kangara told relevant Government bodies to rise to the occasion and nullify the titles that had been issued illegally.

Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi (pictured) took to task County Director Physical Planning Patrick Achoki over issuance of illegal development plans.

Achoki, however, defended himself saying some developers had disregarded his approved plans.

County Police Commander Martin Kibet raised concerns in the manner some of the approvals were issued.

“It is true we will enforce the arrest and demolitions but one wonders how the buildings were approved,” he posed.

“How did they get approvals to build structures on riparian and public land, yet now they are being told to demolish the buildings.”

Illegal structures

Kisii County National Lands Commissioner Director Andrew Rotich said his department was ready to survey and verify the extent to which illegal structures had encroached on public and riparian land.

According to Maangi, the Government has a right to remove any illegal developer from a site at one’s cost.

“Those officers being bribed to sign approvals or stop demolitions will face the consequences. The only thing to stop demolitions is a court order,” he said.

He explained that the demolition team had noticed cases of reconstruction, adding that their objective was to end the misuse of riparian land discharge of effluent to major rivers.

However, there have been concerns from those affected that the demolition team is targeting a few people over business rivalry in the hotel industry.

A majority of those affected by the demolitions are in the hotel and hospitality industry.

At least six hotels have been built along the Nyakomisaro River and have been marked for demolition.