MPs’ property case set for March

A case in which three MPs have been sued for allegedly acquiring State property unlawfully will be heard next month.

MPs Sammy Mwaita (Baringo Central), Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi), and Fahim Yassin Twaha (Lamu West) are among dozens of individuals and firms accused of taking possession of public property illegally.

The High Court in Mombasa on Wednesday directed the parties in the matter to highlight their submissions on March 24, after which the court will set a date for judgment.

The matter was supposed to proceed on Wednesday before Mr Justice Jackton Ojwang’, who was away. Mr Justice Mohammed Ibrahim requested the parties to take another date at the registry.

Injunction

The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, which instituted the case, was granted an injunction to preserve the properties and restrain the defendants or their agents from disposing of, wasting, or interfering with them until the cases were determined.

The anti-graft agency said that, according to investigations, those sued acquired 20 houses built on government land in Nyali in the year 2000. The four-bedroom houses were built between 1974 and 1977 for senior staff of the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and the Department of Meteorology.

But in 2000, the defendants were said to have illegally used a survey plan prepared by the government to register a grant in their names. The registration was done without the approval of the Civil Aviation Board and the ministries of Lands, Transport, and Finance.