The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has handed over to Bomet and Nakuru Counties 11 public properties it recovered through Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) mechanism and judicial processes.

The properties, with an estimated value of more than Kshs. 780 million, comprise:

140 acres of Naivasha Municipality land valued at Kshs.490 million that had been reserved for research purposes.;

• two blocks of land belonging to Nakuru Municipality with an estimated value of 116.2 million;
• 27 public officers’ residences and two parcels of land reserved for a survey camp for the Department of Survey in Nakuru;
• two blocks of land valued at 4.2 million reserved for the construction of a stadium in Sotik township in Bomet; and
• 150 million Postal Corporation land which was disrupted during an irregular alienation process in Nakuru town along Kenyatta Avenue.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony, the Commission’s Chair, Retired Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, called for cooperation from county governments, state organs and the public to hasten the recovery process of all public properties in the hands of corrupt individuals. He specifically thanked the Bomet and Nakuru County governments for their support and cooperation that led to the successful recoveries.

Nakuru County Governor Lee Kinjanyui promised to continue with the implementation of the recommendations of a Corruption Risk Assessment report that the Commission handed over in 2018.

The Ministry of lands, represented by the Chief Administrative Secretary, Mr. Gideon Mung’aro, lauded the Commission for its good work. He said the ministry would mobilise all its resources to avert more losses of public land and property.

The Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Twalib Mbarak, assured the public that the war against corruption was not political. He highlighted the measures the Commission had taken to prevent and disrupt corruption, among them the regular Corruption Risk Assessments it carries out in the counties.

“In particular, the Commission has averted losses estimated at Kshs. 7.4 billion in this financial year” he noted, adding that more receoveries were being done through Alternative  Dispute Resolution mechanisms to avoid lengthy judicial processes. He particularly noted that one of the recovered assets handed back had taken 11 years in court.

The handing over ceremony was done at Sarova Woodlands hotel in Nakuru County.