NAIROBI, Kenya — The Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) has firmly opposed plans to subdivide and allocate 250,000 acres of public land under its management in Garsen Constituency, Tana River County, citing ongoing investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) into alleged irregular land allocations.
Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Lands at Bunge Tower on Thursday, Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Ronoh said the corporation has consistently resisted efforts to excise portions of the land, arguing that the vast ranch remains critical to Kenya’s food security agenda.
“The ADC has always opposed the subdivision for the reason that it would interfere with the Corporation’s statutory mandate, mainly being food production,” Dr. Ronoh told the committee chaired by North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko.
The Principal Secretary, accompanied by the Acting ADC Chief Executive Officer, dismissed claims that the subdivision process had been sanctioned through interventions by former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta. He said no formal government directive or written communication authorising the subdivision had ever been issued.
According to Dr. Ronoh, the matter had previously been brought before Parliament through a petition submitted to the Lands Committee, but was never heard or concluded. He argued that any attempt to proceed with subdivision would raise serious constitutional concerns because the land is public property protected from unlawful alienation.
“The issue is currently under active investigation by both the EACC and the DCI, making it inappropriate to proceed with any implementation steps at this stage,” he said.
The Agriculture Ministry further faulted the process for lacking public participation, a constitutional requirement under Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya, and noted that Parliament has never passed a resolution supporting the proposed subdivision.
The dispute highlights the broader challenge of managing public land in Kenya, where allegations of irregular allocations and encroachment have frequently triggered legal and political battles. Public land is protected under Articles 62 and 67 of the Constitution, which require transparent administration and safeguard it from unlawful acquisition.
Dr. Ronoh also revealed that the Cabinet recently designated the ranch as a food security project area, reinforcing its strategic importance to national agricultural production. The designation, he said, strengthens ADC’s position that the land should remain intact and under public management to support food production and national development goals.
“No specific timeline can be provided, given that ADC land is public land and, under the Constitution, should not be alienated,” he said.
