The Ethics and Anti‑Corruption Commission recovered property worth Sh320 million in Kakamega that had been illegally acquired

EACC Reclaims Public Land Worth Sh320 Million in Western Kenya
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has successfully recovered 12 parcels of public land in Kakamega and Bungoma counties, collectively valued at Sh320 million, following an investigation into illegal land transactions involving government officials and private developers. The reclaimed plots, originally designated for government housing initiatives, were unlawfully acquired and misused before being returned to public ownership.
According to EACC Western Regional Manager Eric Ngumbi, some of the parcels had been fraudulently leveraged to obtain bank loans through forged title deeds. These parcels were fraudulently acquired and used by private developers to secure bank loans using forged title deeds, Ngumbi revealed. The Commission’s probe also identified an additional 56 pieces of public land suspected to have been illegally grabbed from state institutions, including the Judiciary, Kenya Railways, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, the National Treasury, and the State Department for Housing.
The recovery was hailed as a major win for public accountability by regional officials. Western Regional Commissioner Samson Macharia emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between state agencies, urging local administrators to take leadership in ensuring transparency and upholding integrity. During a high-level meeting attended by County Commissioners, DCI officials, police commanders, and senior officers, strategies were laid out to strengthen anti-corruption measures and prevent future land fraud, with a focus on reinforcing public sector integrity across the region.