Swazuri, 6 others due in court Monday over economic crimes

National Land Commission boss Muhammad Swazuri is among seven officials arrested on August 11, 2018 by anti-graft detectives over SGR compensation. He is the latest high profile public official to be arrested over allegations of corruption. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Police also arrested the commission' chief executive/secretary Chavangi Aziz Tom and Kenya Railways boss Atanas Maina.

The anti-corruption commission has said it has sufficient evidence to bring charges of economic crimes against National Land Commission (NLC) chairman Muhammad Swazuri and six others arrested Saturday.

Prof Swazuri was arrested hours after prosecutor Noordin Haji agreed to charges against him and others over compensation for land acquired for construction of the standard gauge railway.

Police also arrested the commission' chief executive/secretary Chavangi Aziz Tom and Kenya Railways boss Atanas Maina.

Two senior land commission directors, Ms Salome Munubi (valuation and taxation) and Mr Francis Mugo (finance), were also arrested in the morning swoop.

Ms Gladys Mwikali Muyanga, a land registrar, in the Lands ministry and a licensed land surveyor Mr Obadiah Mbugua Wainaina are also in police custody.

A family had petitioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) demanding Mr Swazuri and Kenya Railways boss Maina investigated over the compulsory acquisition of a piece of land, LR No MN/VI/755, located in Miritini, Mombasa.

But the DPP’s tweet did not elaborate whether Mr Swazuri will be charged over payment of Sh519m for the piece of land claimed by the family of the late James Kamau Thiong’o and the African Gas and Oil Company Limited (AGOL).

The family alleged NLC and Kenya Railways processed the payment before they could determine the legality of the title being held by AGOL.