The High Court has granted the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission orders stopping the alleged planned auction of public land.
EACC moved to court to stop an alleged illegal auction of public land in Nakuru.
The auction is allegedly being done by a private company which claims ownership of the property.
The auctioneers had issued a notice of the auction to be conducted publicly on Friday, August 23, 2024.
In his ruling on the EACC Application filed under a Certificate of Urgency, Justice Charles Kariuki prohibited a private firm and a bank from selling, charging, alienating, auctioning, or disposing of the land pending hearing and determination of the EACC Application.
Reacting to the High Court Ruling, EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said the targetted land parcels are part of land worth over Sh10 billion allegedly grabbed by over 50 private persons.
Ngumbi said the property is currently under active investigation by the Commission for recovery.
Once it has been recovered, he said, the land will be returned to the public, as well as the prosecution of culpable persons.
The Commission cautioned anyone planning to participate in the planned auction that they risk being conned since no person can claim ownership and sell public land.
"Therefore, any person purchasing this land risks losing it to the government when the ongoing investigations and court process are finally completed," EACC South Rift regional manager Ignatius Wekesa said on Wednesday during an investigation tour of the land.
Wekesa said the Commission has since written to the Ministry of Lands, asking it to put restrictions on the land to stop any dealings until its ongoing investigations are completed.
The Commission commended the residents of Nakuru and the NGOs based in Nakuru who provided valuable reports.
On land grabbing, EACC said any grabber pretending to claim ownership of public land should consider voluntary surrender to the Commission.
