The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has reinforced its crackdown on land grabbing in Machakos County, reclaiming public land valued at approximately KES 50 million.
The recovered plots, Machakos Municipality Block 1/623 and Block 1/624, are situated along Kangundo Road and cover 0.79 acres.
Investigations by EACC revealed that these parcels, originally part of LR No. 909/536, were unlawfully allocated to private individuals in the early 1990s.
The 1.78-acre piece had been reserved for the Ministry of Health to develop institutional housing.
A portion of the land still hosts a government “pool house” used by the Sub-County Police Commander.
The irregular allocation involved subdividing LR No. 909/536 into three parcels, with Blocks 1/623 and 1/624 ending up in private hands while the section hosting the government house remained public.
Block 1/624 was voluntarily returned by its owner, while Block 1/623 required legal intervention.
In 2019, EACC filed a case against Mr. Wilson Gacanja, former Commissioner of Lands, and Mr. Joseph Mutuku Muia, son of a former Masaku Town Council Mayor.
On 16 January 2026, Environment and Land Court Judge Hon. Justice Nelly A. Matheka ruled that the parcel was public land, canceled Mr. Muia’s title, and ordered rectification of the land register to reflect government ownership.
Mr. David K. Too, EACC Director of Legal Services and Asset Recovery, highlighted that the Commission has recovered other parcels in Machakos, including land allocated to the Judiciary and Machakos Primary School, through Alternative Dispute Resolution.
He further noted that assets worth about KES 363 million across Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni are currently under recovery, including 13 Kenya Prisons parcels valued at KES 60 million.
The EACC has called on individuals in possession of public land acquired unlawfully to surrender it voluntarily, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding public assets and ensuring they serve their intended purposes.