Anti-graft body recovers 'grabbed' Sh1b ADC land

EACC South Rift Regional Manager Ignatius Wekesa flanked by other EACC officers addresses the press in Nakuru county on December 1, 2022. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has recovered land belonging to the Agricultural Development Corporation in Naivasha, valued at Sh1 billion.

With the recovery of the prime land in Ndabibi area, several former and present government officers are facing arrest over the illegal transfer of the government agency's asset.

This came as the commission announced that it was also investigating how other ADC parcels of land in Nakuru, Bomet, Kericho and Narok counties were grabbed.

According to the EACC South Rift regional manager Ignatius Wekesa, people have been known to grab idle government land with the support of government officers.

"We have recovered two parcels of land belonging to ADC in Naivasha and the legal process of charging those involved is underway," he said.

Wekesa added that the commission had earlier recovered land belonging to Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (Karlo) worth Sh5 billion in Naivasha and handed it back to the research centre.

"Once we recover the land it's upon the necessary arm of the government to fence it and make sure they have obtained the required ownership documents," he said.

The senior officer made the remarks at Morendat Training school in Naivasha during an induction workshop for senior staff from Turkana University.

He said EACC was also investigating certificates of senior government officers said to be forged.