Court Halts Land Sales in Ruiru as EACC Moves to Reclaim Grabbed School Property
The Environment and Land Court in Thika has stopped two individuals from selling or developing a disputed nine-acre parcel of land in Kahawa Sukari, Ruiru, following a petition by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). The watchdog agency alleges that the land, valued at over Ksh250 million, was originally designated for the construction of a secondary school but was illegally converted into residential plots. The court’s temporary injunction halts all activities on the property pending the conclusion of the recovery case.
According to the EACC, the contested land—identified as Ruiru/Kiu Block 3/1372—was carved out of a larger parcel initially owned by Kahawa Sukari Limited. When the developer sought government approval for the residential scheme, one of the mandatory conditions was to allocate portions of land for public use, including schools and community facilities. However, EACC claims that the company breached those conditions by selling the property to private individuals before fulfilling its lease obligations or obtaining consent from the Commissioner of Lands. In 2015, the new owners allegedly secured an irregular change-of-use approval from Kiambu County’s planning department, allowing the land to be subdivided into 37 residential plots.
The Commission told the court that the transfer and subdivision of the land violated the lease agreement, which prohibited any sale or change of use before the construction of the school. It further described the process as fraudulent, arguing that the approvals granted by the county planning office were unlawful and deprived the local community of a much-needed educational facility. The EACC is now seeking to nullify all subsequent titles issued and have the land registered in the name of the County Government of Kiambu to restore its intended public purpose.
If successful, this case could set a strong precedent in protecting public assets reserved for education and community development. Land grabbing has long plagued urban and peri-urban regions in Kenya, with schools and public utilities often falling victim to fraudulent acquisitions. The Ruiru case reinforces growing efforts by anti-corruption agencies and courts to safeguard public land and ensure accountability among developers and public officials involved in such irregular transactions.