Kakamega: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is pursuing recovery of public land that has been illegally acquired in the Western Kenya region.

According to Kenya News Agency, Western Regional Manager Eric Ngumbi stated that a significant 25% of public land in the urban counties of Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia is in the hands of land grabbers.

Ngumbi confirmed that the Anti-Corruption body is actively pursuing the recovery of these lands, which include government houses and prime properties worth billions of shillings. Speaking during a joint meeting involving all security and key government agencies chaired by Western Regional Commissioner Irungu Macharia at the Mumias Cultural Centre in Kakamega County, Ngumbi highlighted that EACC has recovered government plots worth 320 million shillings in the past year, with the process still ongoing.

Ngumbi mentioned that EACC has recovered some prime plots in Kakamega's Milimani estate, with plans to recover more, including land belonging to the official residence of Kakamega South Deputy County Commissioner. In Bungoma, EACC has recovered five properties that were irregularly acquired and is in the process of recovering three more. Legal action has also been initiated against auctioneers involved in the controversial auctioning of Matili Polytechnic.

In Busia, EACC has reclaimed Amoni market land, which had been subdivided into 153 plots for sale by a land grabber. Ngumbi revealed that a syndicate involving unscrupulous civil servants has been abetting land grabbing by intentionally absconding court cases. He warned that the government will take action against such officers.

Ngumbi cautioned county governments against negotiating with land grabbers for compensation, citing the Kibuye market in Kisumu town as an example. He emphasized that EACC is focusing on public service delivery points to combat corruption, noting that public officers who accept bribes compromise national security.

He reported that arrests have already been made, including individuals working at the Kakamega County Referral Hospital and the National Registration Bureau. Western Regional Commissioner Irungu Macharia directed National Government Administrative Officers and Police commanders to revitalize corruption prevention committees to combat the issue. He urged heads of government departments to identify corruption hotspots at service delivery points.

Macharia noted that the ministry of Interior has been previously ranked high in the corruption perception index and called on officers to change this perception. The meeting included regional security heads, County commissioners, Deputy County Commissioners, and their security teams, as well as regional heads of EACC, National Authority Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), and Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).