The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has filed a lawsuit seeking to recover public land grabbed by private investors and government officials in Naivasha, Nakuru county.
The 400-acre plot of land in the Naivasha municipality, valued at Sh77,902,500, was reportedly set aside by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) for the construction of a livestock research centre.
“As a result of the irregular allocation, KALRO was deprived of the land which served as the only National Quarantine Station for breeding livestock destined for export/ import. That at the moment the country has no livestock quarantine facility,” stated EACC.
The aforementioned property is situated a few kilometres outside of Naivasha town on the Naivasha-Mai Mahiu Road.
According to inquiries by the anti-graft, the property was set aside in 1904 for use as a veterinary hospital.
The conclusions of the commission that the land belongs to KALRO were supported by Licensed Surveyor J. S. Vaughan.
As per the organization, a second survey of the Veterinary Department land was conducted in 1994 in accordance with FR 270/13, which was created by Licensed Surveyor James Kamwere Muriuki.
The survey revealed four pieces on the ground that are defined as parcel numbers 230, measuring 87.47 hectares, 231, 0.900 hectares, 232, measuring 8.101 hectares, and 233, measuring 79.93 hectares and a service road.
EACC emphasized that the survey study was directed for their use by the then-Director of KARI (now KALRO).
Another survey was conducted by licensed surveyor Gatome under FR 298/133 in January 1996.
The survey subdivided the parcels on FR 270/13, resulting in the following parcels: 231, measuring 0.9 ha; 285; 86.27 ha; 25.43 ha; 289; 41.08 ha; 290; and 291; measuring 11.82 ha.
Investigations revealed that Pineapples Edge Limited received parcel No. 230, measuring roughly 87.47 hectares, on April 16, 1995.
Records collected from the Ministry of Lands indicate this.
“In August 1995 parcel No. 230 and 233 measuring approximately 87.47 and 79.93 ha were allocated to Settlement Fund Trustees who accepted on December 21, 1995,” the Commission added.
In December 1996, they were divided as follows: Parcel No. 289, measuring roughly 41.08 ha, was given to the Settlement Fund Trustees, and parcel No. 285, measuring roughly 86.27 ha, was given to the same group.
Additionally, Kenya Wildlife Service was given parcel No. 286, measuring roughly 25.43 acres, and it accepted the assignment.
“Parcel No. 291 measuring approximately 11.82 ha was allocated to Settlement Fund Trustees and settlement Fund Trustees was allocated Uns. Naivasha Municipality measuring 23 ha.”
EACC also revealed that on August 4, 1999, SPRO informed the Director of Land Administration that parcel numbers 230 and 285 were registered and had cards, whereas parcel numbers 233 and 289 were unregistered and without cards.
Additionally, according to the Green Card and Certificate of Official Search, Naivasha Municipality Block V/286, measuring roughly 25.43 hectares, was registered in KWS’s name.
Further investigation revealed that Pineapples Edge Limited was the registered owner of the parcels with the Naivasha Municipality Block numbers V/285 and V/290, measuring approximately 86.27 ha and 11.82 ha, respectively, according to the Certificates of Official Search and Green Cards.