Cord senators to give evidence on Karen land grab next week

Cord senators James Orengo, Boni Khalwale and Johnson Muthama will appear before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) next week to give evidence on the Karen land saga.

In a letter to the anti-graft body dated Wednesday, Mr Orengo said he and his two colleagues had compiled a dossier containing relevant documents to help the commission unearth the grabbers of the 134-acre prime land.

“We have compiled a dossier containing relevant documents and material which we hope will assist you in conducting investigations,” read the letter.

The Siaya senator explained that he and his colleagues could not avail the evidence to the commission on Wednesday because Dr Khalwale is out of the country on official duty.

“Senator Boni Khalwale is out of the country on official business to the United Kingdom. We have made a decision to avail to you the dossier upon his return to the country sometime next week,” he stated.

'VALUABLE INFORMATION'

The EACC had written to the three senators summoning them to appear before its detectives to shed light on the matter.

The EACC letter was signed by Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud.

“It has been widely reported in the media that you have valuable information on the alleged illegal acquisition of the above referenced land. As a responsible leader of this great country, you have an obligation to give this information to the responsible law enforcement agencies for investigation to unearth the truth,” Mr Mohamud stated.

Last week, the three senators named politicians and other leaders, who they said were "chief architects" of the scandal or were linked to it.

The politicians, however, did not give any evidence implicate the said individuals they were accusing, though they noted that they have sworn affidavits and records from the Lands ministry to substantiate their claims.

LEGAL DISPUTE

They demanded that those implicated in the scandal record statements on their alleged roles in the land-grabbing saga.

The 134-acre parcel of land worth Sh8 billion is at the centre of a legal dispute between businessman Horatius Da Gama Rose and former National Social Security Fund (NSSF) managing trustee Jos Konzolo.

Mr Da Gama Rose’s lawyer, Cecil Miller, on October 10 wrote to Mrs Ngilu accusing her personal assistant, Mary Ndunga, and Nairobi AP Commander Francis Mburu of presiding over the “invasion” of the land on October 4 and supervising construction on it despite a court order.

Ngilu has since denied the claims and asked the EACC to investigate the issue.

“I have thoroughly interrogated Ndunga and she has no knowledge of the land in question, let alone having been on it on October 4,” she said.