The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered public land worth Sh305 Million which was illegally obtained from Kisite Mpunguti Marine Reserve in Kwale County.
EACC Head of Corporate Communications Eric Ngumbi said the island, which belongs to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), has been recovered through the Commission’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.
The mechanism facilitates suspects in possession of public property to enter into negotiations with the Commission on terms of voluntary surrender and return of the stolen property to the Commission to avert the lengthy and costly court process.
"The property comprises four (4) parcels of land within the Kisite/Mpunguti Marine National Reserve, which is a protected, reserved, and gazetted area under the management and conservation of the KWS," Ngumbi said.
The 4 grabbed parcels (islands) are located at an estimated distance of 2 hours' travel on water using a KWS patrol boat from the KWS mainland post in Kwale.
"Considering the discreet location of the islands in private ownership, the risk of the property being used for criminal activities such as drug dealing away from Government oversight was real," Ngumbi further said.
"Before the recovery by EACC, one of the grabbed parcels had been earmarked for the construction of a private airstrip by an individual."
Three (3) out of the four (4) beneficiaries accepted to return the stolen property and handed over original titles Nos: Kwale/Shimoni/493, Kwale/Shimoni/494, and Kwale/Shimoni/496 to the Commission to facilitate the cancellation of the titles and fresh registration under KWS, the lawful owner.
"The recovery of the remaining parcel No: Kwale/Shimoni/495 is ongoing. The Commission is in the process of filing a recovery following the refusal by the suspect to surrender the property," Ngumbi said.