The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered 12 illegally acquired parcels of prime public land in Kakamega and Bungoma towns, valued at KSh 320 million, marking a major breakthrough in the fight against land grabbing in western Kenya.
The recovered properties include government housing units that had been fraudulently taken over by private individuals through collusion with public officials. The Commission has since returned the parcels to their rightful public ownership.
EACC Western Regional Manager Eric Ngumbi, speaking during a regional security forum at the Mumias Cultural Centre, revealed that the Commission is currently pursuing an additional 56 parcels of public land in the region. The targeted properties belong to key government institutions including the State Department for Housing, the Judiciary, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Kenya Railways, and the National Treasury.
Ngumbi raised alarm over a rising trend where private developers are fraudulently acquiring title deeds to public land and using them as collateral to secure loans from financial institutions. He called on security agencies to strengthen their collaboration with EACC to clamp down on corruption, particularly at service delivery points.
“Corruption and bribery continue to be the greatest impediments to efficient public service. We must unite and root out these practices to restore integrity in our systems,” Ngumbi urged.
Western Regional Commissioner Samson Macharia echoed these sentiments, challenging administrative officers to take full responsibility for public service efficiency in their jurisdictions. He emphasized the need for inter-agency cooperation in addressing corruption, noting that successful investigations and prosecutions depend on seamless collaboration between institutions.
“Corruption is a threat to both governance and security. We must stand together—national and county officers, investigators, and the community—to protect public resources,” Macharia stated.
The high-level forum was convened by the Office of the Regional Commissioner and brought together County Commissioners, County Police Commanders, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and other security and administrative personnel from Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, and Vihiga counties. Discussions centered on national security, land fraud, and enhancing coordination between government agencies to improve public service delivery.
The EACC’s latest recovery underscores growing concerns over rampant land grabbing in Western Kenya and signals the Commission’s renewed resolve to protect public assets from illegal appropriation.
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