Kenya: Mombasa Court Declines Challenge On Repossession of Grabbed Airport Land

17 July 2023
Capital FM (Nairobi)
By Adah Tanui

Nairobi — The Environment and Land Court has dismissed a preliminary objection seeking to block the repossession of public land forming part of Mombasa's Moi International Airport (MIA).

Justice Stephen Kibunja, while rendering a verdict on the matter on Wednesday, said the objection was unmerited.

The court also declared a Sh984.4 million payment made the National Land Commission (NLC) for the compulsory acquisition of land in question illegal paving way for a suit to recover the funds.

The objection was filed as the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) sought to recover the parcel valued at Sh2.4 billion.

NLC made the payout after the land was acquired for Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Dongo-Kundu Kipevu Road projects in Mombasa.

The grabbed land included sections earmarked for a new runway at MIA, a United Nation support base, a Kenyan military base and its watchtower.

EACC sued Mombasa-based East African Gas Company Limited, the current registered owner of the land in question and top officials of both NLC and the gas firm.

Individuals sued include former Managing Director of the Kenya Airports Authority Peter Kipyegon Lagat, former Commissioner of Lands Wilson Gacanja, former NLC CEO Tom Aziz Chavangi, former NLC Director of Valuation Salome Munubi and eight others.

EACC also sued Joshua Chelelgo Kulei, Caroline Jebet Kigen and Kipkurui Kimosop being directors of East African Gas Company Limited.

The anti-graft agency noted that the dishonest acquisition of the parcel deprived the government a strategic asset lauding the move to allow the case to proceed to its logical conclusion.

Read the original article on Capital FM.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2023 Capital FM. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.