The Director of Public Prosecution, Noordin Haji gave a go ahead on Saturday morning for the arrest and prosecution of the National Lands Commission Boss, Dr Mohammed Swazuri and other officials for fraudulent compensation of the Standard Gauge Railways (SGR) land.
#BreakingNews The DPP has consented to charges against National Land Commission (NLC) Chair Dr Swazuri and others in relation to #SGR compensation.
— Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions (@ODPP_KE) August 11, 2018
The officials have been arrested with charges involving over Ksh. 500 million compensation for land acquired in Miritini area, Mombasa for the construction of the SGR.
Other than Mohammed Swazuri, the officials include three NLC commissioners: CEO Tom Aziz Chavangi, Director Valuation and Taxation Ms Salome Munubi and Director Finance and Administration Mr Francis Mugo.
Three KRC officials: Kenya Railways Commission(KRC) boss Atanas Maina, KRC Land Surveyor Victor Wahome Kariuki, KRC Assistant Land Surveyor Elijah Mwenda Nyamu.
Four Ministry of Lands officials: Senior Land Surveyor John Mwangi Mwaniki, two Registrar of titles Ms Caroline Nabalayo Kituyi, and Peter Ng’ang’a Mburu, Principal Land Registration Officer Ms Gladys Muyanga
Others are Private Surveyor Obadiah Wainaina, David Some, Esther Chebet Some, Dasahe Investment Ltd, Keibukwo Investment Ltd and Olomotit Estate Ltd.
The officials are currently held at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission offices.
Read: More Corrupt Government Officials To Be Arrested – Uhuru Assures Kenyans
Swazuri is accused of authorizing payment to individuals with false land documents. He is also accused of solely making decisions and disregarding other NLC commissioners input.
It is alleged that billions of shillings was paid to individuals with false documents, claiming the land under which the SGR was built on.
Auditor reports showed other incidences of double payment, payments to ghost individuals and inflation of land value.
This comes after a family in Mombasa petitioned with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the land matter claiming ownership of the disputed land acquired for construction of SGR.
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