The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has scored a significant legal victory after the Environment and Land Court in Nairobi revoked a fraudulent title deed for prime public land valued at Ksh2.8 billion in Gigiri.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 28, EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud revealed that the contested parcel, part of the Karura Forest reserve, had been the subject of an 18-year court battle between the commission and a private developer.
Mohamud explained that the land was unlawfully acquired through a series of fraudulent transactions dating back to the early 1990s, emphasizing that it was public property never intended for private ownership.
EACC Triumphs as Court Revokes Fraudulent Ownership of Ksh2.8 Billion Gigiri Land. Photo: Courtesy.
EACC investigations revealed that the fraudulent scheme began when land set aside for public use was irregularly allocated and subsequently transferred through a series of illegal transactions.
According to the commission, the parcel known as Nairobi Block 91/130, measuring approximately 0.566 hectares, had been reserved for the Kenya Technical Trainers College (KTTC).
An additional 2.5 hectares were later unlawfully excised from Karura Forest and allocated to the late Kamotho.
The two parcels were later amalgamated to form Nairobi Block 91/333, which Kamotho registered in 1994 under his company, Gigiri Court Limited.
He later sold the company, together with the property, to Mandip Singh Amrit and Manjit Singh Amrit for Ksh6 million.
The new owners later carried out an unauthorized survey, leading to the illegal annexation of an additional 3.8 hectares from Karura Forest.
A new title, Nairobi Block 91/386, was then irregularly issued in September 1995 by the then Commissioner of Lands, Wilson Gacanja.
EACC moved to court seeking to nullify the transactions and have the land reverted to public ownership.
Justice David Mwangi ruled in favour of the EACC, declaring the private ownership of the forest land unlawful and in violation of laws protecting public reserves.
The court also found two former senior land officials responsible for their role in the illegal allocations.
