Govt Reclaims Ksh25M Kisumu Property from Kenyan After 27-Year Ownership
A significant property dispute in Kisumu has concluded with the Kenyan government reclaiming land valued at Ksh25 million, previously held by a private individual for 27 years.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) successfully pursued legal action, leading to the recovery of this prime piece of land, originally belonging to the Kenya Railways Corporation. Investigations revealed the land was unlawfully allocated back in 1998.
Initially, the land was part of the East African Railways and Harbors Administration, as documented in 1963. After the corporation’s dissolution, the land transitioned to Kenya Railways in 1986. However, twelve years later, an individual received an allotment letter, followed by a Certificate of Lease in 2000, raising serious questions.
The Kisumu Environment and Land Court, under Justice Samson Okong’o, ruled decisively. The court determined the Certificate of Title held by the individual was obtained unlawfully and subsequently cancelled it. This decision solidified the government’s claim that the land was always intended for public use.
Justice Okong’o’s judgment underscored that the land was never available for private allocation. The Certificate of Lease was deemed fraudulent, unlawful, null, and void, reinforcing that the property was already earmarked for public purposes.
EACC’s recent successes include recovering several other properties wrongfully acquired from government entities. These include land belonging to the Kisumu Law Court, Kenya Railways at Kisumu Port, and KIWASCO’s water treatment plant land.
Furthermore, the Commission has reclaimed substantial assets in Kisumu, such as the Kibuye Market land, valued at approximately Ksh2 billion, and public property in the Dunga area, worth Ksh410 million.
Kisumu County continues to grapple with land grabbing issues, with EACC actively pursuing cases involving properties valued at over Ksh4 billion, currently pending in the Environment and Land Court.
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Govt Reclaims Ksh25M Kisumu Property from Kenyan After 27-Year Ownership
