EACC seeks to recover Sh1.6 billion land from private owners

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission CEO Twalib Mbarak. [Michael Mute, Standard]

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is pursuing four lawsuits against private entities and former Commissioners of Land for the recovery of five parcels of land in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).

  The land, valued at over Sh1.6 billion, was allegedly grabbed from Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) and the Nairobi City Council (NCC).

 Among the defendants are Apostle James Maina Ng’ang’a of Neno Evangelism Center, Rubis Energy (formerly Kobil Petroleum), Arts 680 Limited and Lima Limited.

 EACC claims that the land was illegally allocated or transferred to the defendants without following due process.

 The commission said it is seeking to revoke the titles and restore the ownership to the rightful public entities.

 The commission is also demanding mesne profits of Sh1.6 billion from the defendants for the unlawful use of the land.

 One of the parcels in question is LR. No. 209/12492, which measures 0.2593 hectares and is valued at Sh380 million.

 The land was originally part of a larger parcel that KRC surrendered to the government in 1953 and 1960 for the construction of the Post and Telecommunication Headquarters and a flyover.

  The EACC alleges that the land was irregularly allocated to Arts 680 Limited in 1994 by the then Commissioner of Lands.

 Another parcel is LR. No. 209/9640, which measures 0.2766 hectares and is valued at Sh480 million.

The current owner is Neno Evangelism Center Registered Trustees, led by Apostle James Maina Ng’ang’a.

 The land was also part of the parcel that KRC surrendered to the government in 1953 for the construction of the Post and Telecommunication Headquarters.

 EACC alleges that the land was fraudulently transferred to Neno Evangelism Center by the then Commissioner of Lands.

 A third parcel is LR. No. 209/12361, which measures 0.0253 hectares and is valued at Sh30 million.

 The current owner is Apostle James Maina Ng’ang’a, who also owns Neno Evangelism Center.

 The land was also part of the parcel that KRC surrendered to the government in 1960 for the construction of a flyover.

 The commission alleges that the land was illegally allocated to Apostle Ng’ang’a by the then Commissioner of Lands. 

 The last two parcels are LR. No. 209/9641 and LR. No. 209/12133, which measure 0.2766 hectares and 0.14 hectares respectively and are valued at Sh480 million and Sh240 million respectively.

 The current owner is Rubis Energy, formerly known as Kobil Petroleum. The land was also part of the parcel that KRC surrendered to the government for the construction of the Post and Telecommunication Headquarters.

 No. 209/12133 was also excised from a public road reserve and contained a public toilet owned by NCC.

 EACC alleges that the land was unlawfully transferred to Rubis Energy by the then Commissioners of Lands.

 The commission has filed witness statements and documents to support its claims.

It has also sought the consolidation of the cases to avoid duplication and expedite the hearing.