EACC To Recover Ksh200M Eldoret CBD Land in Major Anti-Graft Recovery Push
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has filed a legal suit seeking to recover two parcels of public land in Eldoret’s Central Business District valued at Ksh 200 million. The land, totaling 3.44 acres, was originally reserved for government housing.
The properties in question Eldoret Municipality Block 7/210 and Block 7/248 are still occupied by government houses, specifically units ELD/HOU/MG/42 and ELD/HOU/MG/43, under the management of the State Department for Housing and Urban Development.
EACC alleges that the land was fraudulently acquired by Wilfred Kitur Kimalat, a former Permanent Secretary for Provincial Administration and National Security, and Endo Holdings Limited, a company linked to the late Ishmael Chelang’a, who served as Provincial Commissioner for Rift Valley Province during the period of the alleged irregular transactions.
According to the EACC’s investigation, the allocation was facilitated by Wilson Gacanja, the then Commissioner of Lands, who is now cited in the suit for breaching his statutory obligations and fiduciary duty by approving the lease.
“The land was not available for allocation,” the EACC argues in court documents. “It had already been designated and occupied for public use.”
The anti-graft agency is now asking the Environment and Land Court in Eldoret to cancel the leases, declare all transfers null and void, and issue a permanent injunction to block further dealings involving the land. EACC also seeks to have the land restored to the government and registered under the Housing Department in public trust.
The court has certified the matter as urgent and scheduled the injunction hearing for July 23, 2025.
“This case underscores the Commission’s continued commitment to the protection and recovery of public assets,” the EACC stated.
The suit adds to the growing list of actions taken by the commission to reclaim public land wrongfully allocated to former officials. If successful, the case would set a precedent for similar cases involving land reserved for government housing and infrastructure.
