The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has reclaimed a sprawling 32-acre parcel of land in Kwale County, returning it to its rightful owners.
This decision follows a recent court ruling, which determined that the land, valued at a staggering Ksh1.2 billion, had been unlawfully seized by a group of private investors.
Located on Chale Island, the piece of land encompasses a portion of the revered Kaya Forest, which has been officially designated as a marine park entrusted under the guardianship of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
What’s more, the land also holds a deeply rooted cultural importance, serving as a hallowed site for the performance of traditional rituals by local elders.
It is part of the Chale Island in Kwale County and was grabbed by private individuals under the guise of a squatter settlement scheme.
According to the EACC, the land had been subdivided into 49 parcels and allocated to ghost squatters alleged to be members of the Kinondo Chale Settlement Scheme, who later sold it to private individuals.
The recovery was through 32 civil suits filed in the Kwale Environment and Land Court, against Manmohan Kaur Kalsi, Director of Swahili Beach and others.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak noted the commission’s dedication to restoring all unlawfully acquired land to its rightful owners.
“We earnestly call upon the vigilance of the Kenya Wildlife Service, Kwale Governor, and the Government, as the culprits behind these land grabs remain at large,” he asserted to the media.
Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani has as well echoed similar sentiments, throwing her full support behind the commitment to justice.
“I strongly urge the EACC to delve into comparable instances of individuals holding counterfeit title deeds within Kwale County,” she emphasized.
She also implored the EACC to forge close partnerships with local authorities, expediting the swift return of all land to its legitimate owners.
