Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered grabbed government land valued at Ksh 65 million in Kitale.
“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered Kitale Government housing property valued at Kes65 Million. The parcel of land known as Kitale Municipality Block 11/18, measuring 1.732 acres, where Government House No. KITA/HOU/HG/2 stood was irregularly allocated to Charles Lugano, now deceased.” said EACC
Issuing the ruling was Justice Dr.IUR Fredrick Nyagaka of the Environment and Land Court who noted that the land was not allocated to private individuals and should only be used for government housing.
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“The suit was initially filed by the administrators of the Estate of Charles Lugano, who sought to have the land declared private property. At the time of filing, the beneficiaries of Lugano estate had already demolished Government House No. KITA/HOU/HG/2, which stood on the property, despite the Commission having obtained preservation orders on 9th March 2021.
Investigations by the Commission established that the land had been reserved for government housing since 1928. The government house in question, where the Chief Magistrate of Kitale Law Courts resided, remained on the official Government Building Register and had never been leased or lawfully disposed off as required under the Government Financial Regulations. The eviction of the magistrate in 2002 and the subsequent demolition of the house in 2021 were therefore illegal.
In its judgment, the Court declared that the allocation and registration of the land in favor of Charles Lugano were null and void, effectively making it incapable of conferring any legal interest, right, or estate. Consequently, the Court ordered the cancellation of the title and directed that the property revert to the Government.” said EACC
The court awarded EACC Ksh 3 million as damages for bringing down the property that was on the land and Ksh 252,000 as compensation for the missed rent that could have been collected.
