Groups demand resignation of all NLC officials

National Land Commission Chairman Muhammad Swazuri when he appeared before the National Assembly Environment Committee at Parliament. [Boniface Okendo/Standard]

Civil society organisations have called for resignation of National Land Commission (NLC) officials over questionable deals.

The organisations, under the Land Sector Non-State Actors (LSNSA), have given the commissioners 30 days to quit failure to which they will face legal action.

In a joint statement, the organisations also called for reconstitution of the commission.

They singled out renewal of land leases in Nairobi and Mombasa as one area that has been mired in controversy.

“We recently received a request from several community groups and individuals who have accused commissioners of different offences and want to petition Parliament to institute the process of removing them from office and we plan to follow this through if they don't quit,” reads their statement.

The team wants the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to carry out a lifestyle audit on the commissioners and other senior officials.

The statement was signed by, among others, Pamoja Trust chief executive Steve Ouma Akoth, Pauline Vata, the director of Hakijamii and Kenya Human Rights Commission director Faith Alubbe.

Last week, NLC chairman Muhammad Swazuri and Kenya Railways Corporation Managing Director Atanas Maina were among seven people arrested over questionable compensation of land owners over the Standard Gauge Railway. This was after the DPP Noordin Haji had approved corruption charges against them.

And yesterday, the pressure groups also claimed the commission’s performance was below par despite unwavering support from the public.

"The commissioners and some senior officials have failed to discharge their mandates and have caused a mockery of the commission,” the statement said.