The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) recovered 7.11 Hectares of grabbed Karura forest land valued at KSh2.8 billion.

This case was filed by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), currently the EACC, in 2007.

On 23rd October 2025, the Environment and Land Court in Nairobi delivered a landmark judgement by cancelling the title to land known as Nairobi Block 91/386, valued at Ksh 2.8 billion in the name of Gigiri Court Limited.

Gigiri Court Limited had acquired the property from the late John Joseph Kamotho, former Cabinet Minister in the Government of the late President Moi.

In a public notice dated Tuesday, October 28th, EACC stated that 7.11 hectares is prime public land in Gigiri and was created through amalgamation of Nairobi Block 91/130 reserved for Kenya Technical Teachers College (KTTC).

“The property, measuring approximately 7.11 hectares, is prime public land in Gigiri forming part of Karura Forest. It was created through the amalgamation of Nairob Block 91/130, originally reserved for Kenya Technical Teachers College (KTTC), and Nairobi Block 91/333, part of Karura Forest that had not been degazetted,” read part notice.

What EACC Discovered After Investigations

• Nairobi Block 91/130 (approx. 0.566 ha) was reserved for KTTC.
• An additional 2.50ha was illegally hived from Karura Forest and allocated to Kamotho.
• The said Nairobi Block 91/130 and the additional portion measuring 2.50h were amalgamated to form Nairobi Block 91/333.
• In 1994, Kamotho caused be registered Nairobi Block 91/333 to his company, Gigiri Court Limited.
• He later sold Gigiri Court Limited, together with the said property, Nairobi Block 91/333 for KES.6 Million to Mandip Singh Amrit and Manjit Singh Amrit.
• Subsequently, Gigiri Court Limited undertook a private survey of the property, and an additional 3.8 ha was illegally hived off Karura Forest.
• Ultimately, Nairobi Block 91/333 and the additional portion measuring 3.8ha were amalgamated to create Nairobi/Block 91/386 and a Lease illegally issued by Wilson Gacanja on September 6th, 1995 to Gigiri Court Limited for residential use.
• Despite the suit property being public property, portions were unlawfully hived off and allocated to private persons through a series of illegal transactions between 1987 and 1995.

Reliefs Sought by the Commission

a) Declarations that the alienation of Nairobi Block 91/130 and the creation of 91/333 and 91/386 were irregular, fraudulent, illegal, and therefore null and void;

b) A declaration that the Certificate of Lease issued to Gigiri Court Limited for Nairobi Block 91/386 was invalid;

c) Orders for rectification of the land register by cancellation of the Lease, Certificate of Lease, and all related entries;

d) A permanent injunction restraining Gigiri Court Limited and its agents from dealing with the land in any manner other than by surrender to the Government of Kenya;and

e) General damages for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, plus costs of the suit.

Also Read:Judiciary Bribery Trial Stalls After EACC Lost Evidence

Court’s Determination

Justice David Mwangi, in his ruling, declared that the certificate of lease issued to Gigiri Court Limited was null and void and could not confer title to private persons.

However, the court maintained that the land was alienated Government Land, and its allocation to Kamotho was contrary to the Forest Act and the Government Lands Act.

It further added that the land was reserved for KTTC and Karura Forest.

The principle of first registration does not protect unlawfully acquired property as provided under Article 40(6) of the Constitution.

Wilson Gacanja and James Raymond Njenga, both former Commissioners of Lands, have been found to do actions beyond their powers.

After this final court verdict, the recovered parcel of land remains public property for both forest and institutional land.

Ongoing asset recovery efforts

The Commission is working relentlessly in recovering public assets, and for the last one year, they have repossessed 80 recovery suits have been filed seeking to recover assets valued at approximately Ksh 4.8 billion.

Concluded Cases by EACC

i. Recovery of a road reserve land worth KES 30 Million that had been grabbed in Nyali, Mombasa, reserved for the expansion of Links Road adjoining 1st Avenue.

ii. Recovery of a prime parcel of land worth KES 35 Million belonging to the Ministry of State Department for Housing and Urban Development, located next to the Bungoma State Lodge at Millmani area in Bungoma Town.

iii. Public auction of six (6) prime properties, recovered from the former Migori Governor, Okoth Obado, and former head of Treasury at the City County of Nairobi, Stephen Osiro, realizing a total value of KES. 75.4 Million.

Other assets belonging to the two individuals are scheduled to be auctioned in the coming days.

iv. Recovery of public land valued at KES. 50 Million, located within the Kenya Railways Light House Kizingo Estate in Mombasa County belonging to Kenya Railways Corporation.

EACC remains committed to recovering corruptly acquired public property and restoring them back to public benefit.

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EACC notice of recovering hectares of land worth billions. PHOTO/EACC X