EACC summons top National Land Commission officials
National Land Commission chairperson Muhammad Swazuri in a Nairobi court where he challenged Parliament's bid to investigate him in connection with corruption allegations. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- He asks NLC chairman Prof Mohamud Swazuri to make arrangements for the commissioners and himself to meet three EACC officers handling the investigations.
- Those invited alongside Prof Swazuri are his deputy Abigael Mbagaya, Dr Rose Musyoka, Abdulkadir Adan Khalif, Emma Muthoni Njogu and Dr Tomik Konyimbih.
- Officers carted away computers and documents in one of the houses, Sh17 million in dollars and Kenya shillings.
The anti-corruption agency has summoned six members of the National Land Commission in its ongoing investigations into graft allegations regarding compensation of land for the Standard Gauge Railway.
In a letter, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission director of investigations Abdi Mohamud, asks the commissioners to report to Integrity Centre between June 2 and June 19.
“The commission is conducting an inquiry into the allocation of land and compensation of land owners affected by the Standard Gauge Railway project in Embakasi and Athi River,” Mr Mohamud says in the letter seen by the Nation.
He asks NLC chairman Prof Mohamud Swazuri to make arrangements for the commissioners and himself to meet three EACC officers handling the investigations.
Those invited alongside Prof Swazuri are his deputy Abigael Mbagaya, Dr Rose Musyoka, Abdulkadir Adan Khalif, Emma Muthoni Njogu and Dr Tomik Konyimbih.
RAIDED HOMES
They will be going back to EACC a month after investigators raided the homes of some of them and staff of the NLC, in search of documents relating to the investigations.
Officers carted away computers and documents in one of the houses, Sh17 million in dollars and Kenya shillings.
Dr Konyimbih is scheduled to visit Integrity Centre at 2p.m. on June 2.
He is the chairman of the commission’s committee on land administration, land taxation and compulsory acquisition.
The commission says on its website that he is the reference point for Taita Taveta, Kiambu, Kericho, Nyamira, Nandi, Siaya and Homa Bay.
MISMANAGEMENT
Ms Njogu, Dr Musyoka and Mr Khalif are scheduled for June 5, at 11a.m, while Ms Mbagaya and Prof Swazuri have been asked to report on June 19.
Mr Khalif spoke of the extent of mismanagement at the commission during a meeting with the National Assembly’s Lands Committee in April.
“It looks like the secretariat does most of the work. It is never referred to the commission. Only if there is a dispute does it come to the commission. If there is no dispute, payment goes ahead,” he said.
The commission has been in the spotlight since former journalist Mugo Njeru accused Prof Swazuri of demanding a Sh25 million bribe for an SGR land compensation dispute to be settle in his favour.
