This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
On December 9, 2019, concerns were raised over the Chinese firm behind the Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway (SGR) occupying a piece of land originally owned by the department of children services.
According to a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the lease agreement between the China Roads and Bridge Cooperation (CRBC) and the State department Labour and Social Protection has not been finalised, rendering occupancy of the land illegal.
Former Auditor-General Edward Ouko had questioned the validity of the title deed to the Kabete/Getathuru land held by the directorate of Children Services department, which has been housing the Nairobi Children's Remand Home since 1957.
Mr. Ouko pointed out that an allotment letter dated July 19, 2012, indicates the size of the land as 28.6 hectares, but no ownership documents were availed for audit review despite the institution's existence since 1957.
Further, information available indicates that part of the land measuring 4.579 hectares was being claimed by a private entity, Laporte Investment Ltd, which also held a title deed dated December 31, 2002.
Legislators directed Social Protection PS Nelson Marwa to furnish the committee with the contact details for Laporte Investment and CRBC for further inquiry.
