The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has handed over recovered public assets worth Sh28billion over the past five years in a ceremony witnessed by president William Ruto at State House, Nairobi today.
The assets including 35 title deeds, cash and immovable property belong to various public institutions, both at county and national levels.
Speaking at the event, the president said that: “I am encouraged that the Eacc is pursuing the forfeiture of unexplained wealth valued at Sh59 billion through ongoing court proceedings against individuals whose assets and interests significantly exceed their known legitimate sources of income.”
He noted that Eacc intervened to prevent the loss of public funds estimated at Sh41 billion by deploying various strategies to disrupt corruption networks.
The recovered properties include land parcels in Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, Bungoma, Kisii, Kisumu and Nakuru counties.
Mbarak listed seven examples of properties that were recovered through corruption.
The most expensive asset involved a 1.88-acre land in Kisumu that belongs to the Judiciary worth Sh1.4billion.
The others are three properties in Eldoret measuring 3.25 acres, valued at approximately Sh1.2 billion.
Mbarak said rogue individuals had seized the property belonging to the National Police Service.
He mentioned another property in Kilimani, Nairobi measuring approximately 0.5 acres and valued at Sh700 million.
The other listed properties included one acre of land in Eldoret belonging to Uasin Gishu County Referral Hospital (Sh700 million), 13 amalgamated plots belonging to the State Department of Housing and Urban Development (Sh300 million).
Also recovered by the commission were 15 parcels of land belonging to Kisii County Government (Sh135 million) and one property belonging to Nakuru County Government (Sh100 million).
He urged the government agencies that have benefited from the recovery to establish robust mechanisms to prevent further illegal acquisition.
He pointed out that the development of affordable housing in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, off Enterprise Road, is taking place on a 21.04 hectares (52 acres) piece of land recovered by Eacc from private individuals who had grabbed it from the Meteorological Department.
“The recovery of such assets reaffirms Kenya’s commitment to upholding the Constitution and fulfilling its obligations as a member of the international community under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.” he said.
On his part, Eacc Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak explained that asset tracing is one of the commission’s key pillars in eliminating corruption in the country.
Asset tracing refers to a process whereby investigators follow the money trail to determine the source and revenue generated by the criminal activity.
“Asset tracing and recovery of corruptly acquired assets extinguishes directly the benefits of paying through corrupt activities. We are gathered to witness the handing over of 35 titles, measuring approximately 18.71 acres with a total value of about Ksh.5 billion. There are other titles in the process and maybe soon we will be back here, by your blessing, to have another occasion like this.” Mbarak noted.
Eacc chairman Bishop David Oginde
The President said he would work closely with Parliament to strengthen legislation and regulatory measures to promote accountable leadership and integrity in governance.
Among the proposals he said he will make to Parliament is the amendment to the Evidence Act and the Criminal Procedure Code.
“These amendments will expedite the investigation and prosecution of corruption and economic crimes, ensuring that such cases are concluded within six months.” The president noted.
Additionally, the government will propose amendments to the Public Finance Management Act and the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, aimed at deploying digital infrastructure in public tendering to promote transparency and accountability.
Further, president Ruto called on Parliament to swiftly pass the Conflict of Interest Bill, but urged it to ensure that it meets rigorous standards to make it effective.
“I have made it clear that I will veto any Bill that does not establish a high standard of accountability, integrity and anti-corruption measures.” The president
Moreover, he called for leaders to foster partnerships to fight endemic corruption in public institutions, as well as integrate anti-graft education into the school curriculum.
The reiterated his personal commitment to let national institutions tasked with fighting corruption to operate independently without interference from his office.
“Chairman here will confirm that I have never called him to tell him what to do with the corrupt. I am a firm believer that institutions should deal with their issues and manage the mandates they have.” He said.
Others at the function were Governors Johnson Sakaja of Nairobi, Susan Kihika (Nakuru) and Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu), and Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and among other leaders.