EACC Moves to Recover Sh2.4 Billion Grabbed Land Belonging to Moi International Airport

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has filed an application in court seeking to recover 10 parcels of land valued at Sh2.4 billion grabbed from the Moi International Airport, Mombasa.

In the suit filed at Mombasa Environment and Land Court, EACC also wants to recover Sh984 million being illegal compensation with respect to some of the parcels of the land compulsorily acquired by the National Land Commission (NLC) for the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Dongo Kundu Kipevu Road Project in Mombasa.

The money was paid by NLC to the East African Gas Company Limited, the current registered owner of all the parcels of the airport land whose directors include Joshua Chelelgo Kulei, Caroline Jebet Kigen and Kipkurui Kimosop.

The anti-graft agency says the grabbed land it is seeking to recover is a public property set aside for use by Moi International Airport, under the management of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA). 

“The grabbed land includes part of the Moi International Airport runway, a UN support base, and a Kenyan Military Base and its Watchtower,” EACC said.

The agency has sued fifteen other persons, among them former Managing Director of the Kenya Airports Authority Peter Kipyegon Laga.

“The fraudulent acquisition of the airport land deprived KAA of the strategic asset for the administration, control, management, and advancement of state operations relating to Moi International Airport,” EACC added.