The Ethic and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has won the fifth recovery case in the Ksh 283 million cemetery land scandal in Athi River, Machakos County.
In a statement on Thursday, February 8, the Commission said it won the recovery suit for Ksh 7,000,000 against Dr. Daniel Nguku and Janet Mulwa.
“Justice Esther Maina on Thursday February 8 ordered the two individuals to pay back the Kes. 7,000,000 they received, costs of the suit to EACC and interest at 12% p.a. from 2009 when the embezzlement took place.
“EACC seeks to recover the entire Kes.173,000,000 shared among the officials together with interest at court rates (12%) from the date of theft in 2009,” read the statement in part.
EACC on the Land Scandle
The two individuals are said to be among the beneficiaries of public funds embezzled in the fraudulent procurement of 48.30ha cemetery land by the defunct Nairobi City Council at an exaggerated cost.
From the Ksh 283,200,000, EACC revealed that Ksh 110,000,000 went to the purchase of the cemetery land which was not fit for the intended purpose.
Also, the Commission noted that the remaining Ksh.173,000,000 was shared among Government officials through 26 law firms and proxy companies.
The statement revealed that the land procured at Ksh 110,000,000 was valued by both EACC and the Ministry of Lands Valuers at Ksh 30,000,000.
Also Read: EACC Arrests Nine Govt Officials
Last Judgement
During the last judgement on November 16, 2023, Justice Maina ordered another beneficiary; Joseph Owino Kojwando to pay back to the government Ksh 10,000,000.
Kojwando was also to pay the costs of the suit and interest at 12% p.a from the date he fraudulently received the money.
“Of the 8 recovery suits filed on the cemetery land scandal, this is the 5th to be completed in court and the 6th judgement is coming up on 28th February 2024,” said EACC.
Also Read: EACC Goes After Govt Officials with More Than One Position
EACC Recover 6 Properties
This comes after EACC announced the recovery of six prime Government properties in Kakamega Town cumulatively valued at Ksh 85 million on January 21, 2024.
The property had been grabbed by private individuals in Milimani Estate in Kakamega in collusion with corrupt land officials.
One of the properties was the official residence of the Deputy County Commissioner of Kakamega East whose title deed was registered under a private individual.
The Court nullified the titles for the six properties and ordered the Kakamega Land Registrar to issue new Title Deeds in the name of the Government.
EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said that Kakamega County is among the counties with high prevalence of land grabbing.
Ngumbi revealed that besides the six recovered parcels, EACC is pursuing 20 more grabbed parcels of land in the same estate.
