This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
Published on August 21, 2019, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched investigations into the allocation of 900 acres of land in Machakos County to 27 private firms.
The land, located in Athi River, was supposed to be used to supplement the capacity of the Inland Container Depot. However, reports have emerged that the process used to lease the land to the firms for 45 years was shrouded in secrecy.
Among the firms allocated land is Autoport Freight Terminal Ltd, which is closely linked to Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho. The company was allocated 50 acres and was a major casualty during Joho's public spat with President Uhuru Kenyatta leading up to the 2017 polls.
Other notable companies include Grain Bulk Handlers Ltd (GBHL) and Buzeki Enterprises, whose director is Uasin Gishu politician and businessman Kiprop Bundotich. The company received 50 acres.
There are claims that some firms were exempted from paying fees because they invested tens of millions in building a state-of-the-art logistics facility.
The EACC is now investigating the process used by Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) to choose the list of firms, including the 10-member board that has been summoned to the integrity centre.
