Embattled National Lands Commission has launched internal investigations into the alleged irregular compensation of land owners in the Standard Gauge Railway project.
It comes a day after anti-graft detectives raided the homes of NLC boss Muhammad Swazuri and other commissioners as part of a probe into multi-million shillings SGR compensation heist.
On Friday, NLC was at pains to explain whether they had a hand in the discovery of Sh18 million in one of the commissioner’s home asserting EACC is the one to investigate the matter.
Addressing the press at their Upper Hill offices, Commissioner Samuel Tororei termed the cash haul speculative.
He said the commission has commenced investigations into the SGR scandal will “soon” issue a statement on the same.
“EACC probe are making our commission better…we will also conduct our own investigations to get to the root of the matter,” he said.
Consicously absent at the meeting was National Lands Commission Vice Chairperson Abigail Mbagaya whose house the colossal amount of money including the greenback was discovered.
Swazuri said contrary to media reports none of the commissioners was arrested or detained.
He however equivocated over the SGR land owners’ compensation issue saying the matter was before law enforcers.
Sources told people NLC commissioners held crisis meetings throughout the day to shock absorb the negative publicity the board suffered in the media.
Heads are said to be rolling over leakages of information in the media.
At 7pm Friday, commissioners led by chairman Swazuri were still having meetings at their headquarters.
EAC was investigating NLC officials over compensation to individuals for public land, double compensation, payout to people who do not own land affected by SGR, excessive compensation as a result of over-valuation, compensation in respect to Kenya Railways reserve land and abuse of office by public officials charged with processing compensation.
He said the probe targets Swazuri, his deputy Abigael Mukolwe Mbagaya, chief executive officer Tom Aziz Changingi, Finance Director Francis Mugo and his deputy Mary Ngundo and Valuation and Taxation Director Salome Munubi among other officials.
Detectives visited and conducted searches at NLC vice chairperson Abigael Mbagaya’s Nairobi home but she was said to have been out of town.
According to EACC investigators, Swazuri and his team have paid individuals for public land, authorised double compensation and compensation to people who do not own land affected by SGR.
NLC top officials are accused of colluding with outsiders to irregularly compensate individuals holding titles for Kenya Railway Reserve land and abuse of office in processing the payments.