This archive report was first published on 25 October 2019.
On October 25, 2019, the issue of grabbed public land in Nakuru county came to light. Fifteen plots at Kongasis, intended for public utilities, had allegedly been taken over by a cartel.
The grabbed land includes a primary school, a slaughter house, a market, and an early childhood education centre. Residents who knowingly occupied public land were advised by Eburru-Mbaruk MCA Samuel Kariuki to surrender it within a month, terming the allotments as illegal.
Following an audit, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is handling the case, with the culprits identified. Governor Lee Kinyanjui has called on those who were issued public land to return it, stating that no action will be taken against them.
It has emerged that civil servants facilitated the fraudulent transfer of public property to individuals. The county has the support of the government on the issue of repossessing grabbed public land.
Residents have expressed concerns that cartels have been stealing plots and selling them to unsuspecting Kenyans. The development committee overseeing World Bank funded projects in the area has been accused of being infiltrated by the cartel.
