Omtatah Demands Accountability Over Mukuru Land and ADC Holdings

Busia Senator Andrew Omtatah has called for urgent accountability over alleged irregular allocation of public land in Nairobi and raised concerns about the management of land held by the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC).

Speaking during Senate plenary on Tuesday, May 5, 2025, Omtatah sought formal statements from relevant Senate committees to clarify ownership, allocation processes, and enforcement of public land protections.

The senator singled out a parcel of land in Mukuru kwa Njenga that had been reserved for a public market but is now reportedly in private hands. He questioned how the land was allocated despite its designated public use and why directives to recover it have not been implemented.

“This land was designated for public use, yet it has been irregularly allocated and remains unrestored,” Omtatah said. “We must establish how this happened and why directives for its recovery have not been implemented.”

Omtatah noted that the National Land Commission had already affirmed the land’s public status and recommended revocation of the title. However, he warned that failure to act has left the land vulnerable to further encroachment and possible permanent loss.

“Residents continue to suffer due to the absence of a designated market,” he added.

The senator is now pushing for a comprehensive account of the land’s ownership history, the procedures followed in its allocation, and the steps taken to restore it to public use. He also called for accountability for any public officials involved in irregular allocation or failure to enforce lawful directives.

In a separate request, Omtatah turned his attention to the management of land under the Agricultural Development Corporation, raising concerns about widespread encroachment, irregular allocation, and under-utilisation of what he described as critical national assets.

“ADC land is a national asset meant to support food production and research,” he said. “Yet we continue to see cases of encroachment, irregular allocation, and under-utilisation.”

He urged the Senate committee to provide a full inventory of all ADC land across the country and disclose any cases of illegal occupation or transfer. He further demanded transparency on ownership and the actions taken to reclaim or protect such land.

“Kenyans must know who holds this land, how it was acquired, and what action has been taken,” Omtatah said.

The requests now place pressure on Senate committees to investigate the claims and provide detailed responses, as concerns grow over the safeguarding of public land and strategic national resources.