NAIROBI, Kenya – The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has unveiled the depth of one of Nairobi’s most brazen land scandals, exposing how a 34-acre parcel of Ngong Forest land reserved for the expansion of Lang’ata Women’s Prison was illegally grabbed and converted into lucrative residential estates worth billions of shillings.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation, DCI Deputy Director George Kisaka confirmed that at least 23 companies and several powerful individuals are under active investigation.
“What remains is to trace and record statements from former Commissioners of Lands, Chief Conservator of Forests, Commissioners of Prisons, and other persons or companies of interest,” Kisaka told MPs, adding that a final report would be tabled within two months.
The land in question, which was never lawfully degazetted, now hosts some of Nairobi’s well-known estates, including KMA Estate, Lang’ata Gardens Estate, Lang’ata View Estate, Shalom Estate, St Mary’s Hospital, and Forest Edge/View Estates.
Investigators say these developments were built on illegally acquired forest land through fraudulent allocations dating back to the mid-1980s.
The scheme, Kisaka explained, spans more than three decades and involved senior government officials who abused their authority between 1985 and 1998. Former Commissioners of Lands and prison chiefs are among those being sought for questioning.
The DCI believes they played pivotal roles in irregularly allocating public forest land meant for prison expansion to private entities.
However, the investigation has faced hurdles, with crucial records mysteriously disappearing from the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning. Lawmakers pressed the DCI on whether the missing documents suggest active cover-ups to shield well-connected individuals.
Kisaka assured the committee that investigators are piecing together evidence from alternative sources to ensure accountability.
Civil society groups have welcomed the probe but warned against selective justice. “We have seen too many land scandals where junior officers take the fall while the real masterminds escape.
This case must set a precedent that even the powerful can be held accountable,” said Mary Wambui, a land rights activist.
The Lang’ata land saga adds to Kenya’s long history of public land thefts, from the grabbing of school playgrounds to forests and riparian reserves.
Analysts say this case is particularly sensitive because it involves land earmarked for a correctional facility and protected forest cover, underscoring the intersection of corruption, environmental loss, and institutional failure.
As the DCI tightens its net, the fate of residents living in the contested estates remains uncertain. With billions already invested in housing developments, the government faces a delicate balance between restitution of public land and safeguarding innocent buyers.
The scandal has reignited debate on the urgent need for a transparent and digitized land registry to prevent manipulation of records. For now, all eyes are on the DCI to see if the case will finally break Kenya’s cycle of impunity in mega land scams.
