MACHAKOS, Kenya — The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered public land valued at Sh50 million in Machakos town following a court ruling that upheld government ownership of the contested property.
The reclaimed land consists of two parcels located adjacent to the Machakos Law Courts and forms part of land previously identified as LR No. 909/536, which had been illegally alienated from government premises.
According to the EACC, the land was originally reserved for the Ministry of Health for institutional housing and related public use.
One of the recovered properties includes a pool house identified as House No. MACH/HOUSE/HG.14, which is currently occupied by the sub-county police commander.
EACC Director of Legal Services and Asset Recovery David Too said the judgment marked a significant step in protecting public assets from unlawful acquisition.
“This recovery is a major milestone in safeguarding public land that had been unlawfully excised from government property,” Too said.
He further confirmed that an adjacent parcel of land valued at Sh20 million had also been recovered after a voluntary surrender by the holder, bringing the total value of recovered assets in the case to Sh70 million.
The commission said investigations revealed that the parcels had been carved out of government land through irregular processes, denying public institutions access to property meant for official use.
EACC noted that land grabbing remains one of the most persistent forms of corruption, particularly in urban centres where public land is often targeted for private development.
The recovery forms part of the commission’s broader mandate under Article 252 of the Constitution and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act to investigate corruption and recover public assets.
The agency has in recent years intensified asset recovery efforts, focusing on land attached to hospitals, schools, courts, and other public institutions.
EACC said it will continue pursuing similar cases in collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and other state agencies to deter illegal acquisition of public land.
