This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
On October 2, 2019, Parliament approved nine nominees for appointment to the National Land Commission (NLC), with a combined wealth of Sh1.3 billion.
According to filings tabled in Parliament, the nominees' wealth declarations revealed that former Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi Mathenge is the richest, with a net worth of Sh320 million.
She is followed closely by Alister Murimi Mutugi, who declared a net worth of Sh250 million, and Gershom Otachi, who has a net worth of Sh200 million.
Otachi, a former member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) defence team, is tapped as the new chair of NLC.
The wealth declarations are a requirement for those seeking top public office, as stated in the Constitution, and are used as a tool in the fight against corruption.
Section 26 of the Public Officer Ethics Act requires State officers to submit their declaration forms once every two years, along with those of their spouses and dependent children under the age of 18 years.
The full financial disclosure allows the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to detect and prevent corruption when top public servants are serving in office.
Other nominees include former Egerton University Vice-chancellor James Tuitoek, who declared a net worth of Sh145 million, and former Isiolo Woman Representative Tiyah Galgalo, who said she was worth Sh116 million.
Gertrude Nduku Nguku, a former legal officer with the UN, put her wealth at Sh60.4 million.
The nominees' wealth list revealed that those who have previously served in public offices or consulted for government were richer compared to those who have served in the private sector.
