The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered 18 hectares of public land in Kisumu County which had been illegally acquired by a private investor. EACC Chief Executive Officer Mr. Twalib Mbarak when speaking in Kisumu County on Wednesday confirmed that the repossessed land valued at Sh.2 billion belonged to the expansive Kibuye market. ‘The Commission commenced investigations on February 16 this year upon receipt of a distress call from Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o reporting that the market had been fraudulently acquired by an individual who was demanding a payment of Sh.7 billion to relinquish the market or he evicts the traders,’ Mbarak said. The prime land was recovered after the anti-graft body filed a case in the Kisumu Environment and Land Court against the perpetrator. Traders at the Kibuye Market during the visit by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission CEO Mr. Twalib Mbarak and Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o. Kibuye market has served a population from Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley regions since 1971 and is a source of income for over 5,000 traders. It is one of the largest markets in East and Central Africa. Nyong’o assured residents that his government has teamed up with the National Land Commission (NLC) and the EACC to recover all stolen public land and property in illegal hands. ‘With the help of EACC and the NLC, we shall fearlessly and mercilessly crack down on the land barons. Cartels and brokers must surrender before we go for them,’ said Nyong’o. The County Boss lamented that irregular allocations and land grabbing have negatively impacted the growth of the lakeside city. He pointed out that the land-grabbing crisis has highly affected land spaces that had been earmarked for pathways, parking spaces, sewer lines, drainage systems, playgrounds, development of ECDE Centres, health facilities and affordable housing. In Kisumu alone, the EACC has recovered other strategic public assets constituting the Taifa Park measuring 1.5 acres valued at Sh 500 million, three properties belonging to the Judiciary valued at Sh 940 million and over 20 parcels of land belonging to the Kenya Railways Corporation valued at approximately Sh 2 billion. Others include prime land in the Milimani area that was used to build the County Speaker’s residence and another parcel that was earmarked for the expansion of the Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company Limited (KIWASCO) water treatment plant. EACC is also seeking to recover 105 HA in the Kibos area that was set aside for the establishment of Kisumu Industrial Park. ‘Besides the grabbing cartels, Kisumu is also home to people who hold on to and personalize public property with impunity. We appeal to those holding onto illegally acquired government land in Milimani, Kibos, Migosi and Kanyakwar areas to surrender them,’ said Nyong’o.

Source: Kenya News Agency