Sang’alo Institute of Science and Technology has won a case against a prominent businessman over a prime land in Bungoma town.
The institute was protracted in a legal battle with businessman Sheikh Amin Ali who was laying claim of the land.
Sheikh Amin had moved to court to have the land declared his with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission coming in as an interested party in defence of the institute.
Magistrate Stpehen Mogute ruled that the land Bungoma/Township/570 dully belonged the college.
The magistrate ruled in favour of the institute by declaring that the transfer of land parcel no. Bungoma/Township/570 and the registration of the same in the name of Sheikh Amin was irregular, unlawful and fraudulent hence null and void and that the title for the land be given back to the institute.
While testifying in the court, Sang’alo Institute former principal Chrisantus Wanyonyi said the Sheikh Amin was a board member during the time the institution was purchasing the land and that he was also a signatory and even participated in the payment of the land with a sum of Sh4.4 million through Bulimo and Company Advocates.
The institution's current principal Roselyne Muleshe told the court that she adopted the contents of the records as her evidence and asked the court to order that the suit land be given back to Sang’alo institute.
The EACC, through its officer Jackson Gitonga, tendered evidence that the Sheikh Amin was in conflict when he purchased the land and he was a bank signatory at the time the parcel was purchased.
Gitonga added that the plaintiff was in the institute’s board meeting that discussed the purchase of the property.
Addressing the press after the ruling, Muleshe said the will of the people has prevailed and lauded the EACC for making sure that public property does not go to corrupt individuals.
“I want to applaud the EACC for their intervention to make sure that land is reclaimed back to the institution, I also appreciate all parties involved for making sure that we don’t lose our land,” Muleshe said.
-Edited by SKanyara