MPs probe 34-Acre Lang’ata Women Prison land in private hands

MPs are investigating how 34 acres belonging to Lang’ata Women Prison ended up in private hands.

The National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation wants to establish how the ownership transfer was executed, amid claims of irregular allocations involving politically connected individuals.

Documents tabled before the committee showed that the 34 acres were grabbed and later sold to unsuspecting third parties who have already put up residential houses.

The development emerged during a session between MPs and DCI on the Parliament recommendations relating to the procedure of exercising and allocating land from the Ngong Forest to private individuals.

DCI was represented by George Kisaka during a session with the committee chaired by Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala.

Parliament in its report had instructed DCI to investigate the excision with a view to prosecuting any person found culpable where a criminal offense is established.

According to the Parliament report, officers from the Commissioner of land, Chief Conservator of Forests and Commissioner of Prisons were among the beneficiaries of the questionable transfer.

This is despite the fact that the land is still part of the Ngong Forest as it is yet to be degazzeteted despite the Chief Conservator of lands who served between 1985 and 1993 approving the excision in favour of the prison.

“The land in question was not de-gazetted in accordance with Section 4 of the repealed Forest Ac, Cap 385 of 1942,” police documents indicate.

According to DCI report tabled before the committee, the 34 acres were fraudulently allocated to three allotees who later sold it to ‘innocent’ third parties.

The three were Arladyks Investments Limit, Prilscot Company Limited and Onesmus Kimani Ngunjiri.

They subsequently sub-divided, sold and transferred to third parties, a number of whom have since put up properties.

“The 34 acres were originally meant for the expansion of Nairobi Prison (Lang’ata Women Prison). However, the prison department never benefited from the allocation.”

“The parcel in question is currently fully developed by third parties who may have innocently acquired the properties.”

The DCI told the MPs that their inquiry has been affected by lack of records at the Lands ministry regarding the 34-acre excision.

The investigators also cited difficulty in tracing former government officials— Chief Conservators of Forests, Commissioners of land and Commissioners of Prison—who served between 1985 and 1998.

Committee chairperson said the matter touches on public assets meant for correctional services and vowed that no cover-up would be allowed.

According to the DCI documents, the allocation to Arladyks Investments Limited was transferred to Jackim Limited on February 3, 1994, and later transferred to Kenya Medical Association Housing Cooperative Society in 1998.

To date, the society occupies this parcel, having subdivided it into 113 plots and constructed residential units.

The Prilscot Company Limited plot was changed from open residential to private dwelling on September 12, 1994, and later transferred to Gravity Exporters Limited on November 17, 1994.

The land was then transferred to Assumption Sisters of Nairobi Registered Trustees on March 5, 1999.

Kimani Ngunjiri portion allocated on July 8, 1993, was later subdivided into 11 sub-plots including Shalom Court estates which transferred the said pieces of land to a number of people including Lang’ata Gardens Estate, Lang’ata view Estate and St Mary’s Educational Center hospital.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

Committee on Implementation is charged with the responsibility of scrutinising the resolutions of the House (including adopted committee reports), petitions and the undertakings given by the National Executive and examine whether or not such decisions and undertakings have been implemented and where implemented, the extent to which they have been implemented; and whether such implementation has taken place within the minimum time necessary.