Anti-graft detectives raid Lands body bosses homes over corruption

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC ) detectives on Thursday, May 4 morning raided the residences of National Lands Commission (NLC) chairman, Muhammed Swazuri, Vice Chair Abigail Mbagaya,  CEO Tom Chavangi and other top management over corruption allegations.

According to a source at the Commission, the raid follows allegations of irregular compensation for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Project Affected Persons ( PAPs).

Following the impromptu search, the detectives confiscated documents to facilitate their investigation.

In March, former journalist Mugo Njeru filed a petition before the Parliamentary Lands Committee seeking to have NLC Chairman, Muhammad Swazuri, removed from the commission for soliciting a Ksh 1.2 million bribe in order to facilitate compensation for a one-acre piece of land used during the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway.

Speaking before the Parliamentary Lands Committee, Mr Njeru said he owns land along Mombasa Road, eight acres of land and one acre of the land was acquired for the purpose of building the SGR.

He said Mr Swazuri asked him to pay the bribe through his lawyer Elijah Fadhili Yahaa to facilitate his compensation for the land.

Mr Njeru told the committee that in 2015, he was told to go to Mombasa where he was to meet Mr Swazuri over the deal and that he should carry Ksh 1.2 million as he could not see the chairman empty handed.

Mugo told the MPs that Mr Swazuri’s lawyer told him the money was to be shared among the NLC commissioners.

“In 2015 I told by Mr Elijah Fadhili that I could not raise the Ksh 1.2 million but I had Ksh 1 million. We met with Swazuri in Mombasa at Rotus Hotel but he refused to take the money saying I should give it to his lawyer who knows how the money will get to him,” Njeru said.

Julius Ndegwa, Lamu West MP, wondered why Mr Njeru had to pay the chairman to get compensated, saying it seemed to him that this was a case of a deal gone sour.

“This to me seems like a deal gone sour because if the land belongs to you why then would you bribe the chairman in order to be compensated?” posed Mr Ndegwa.

Swazuri soon after moved to court to restrain the National Assembly Lands Committee from hearing the petition seeking his removal from office.

The orders stopping parliament from proceeding with the hearing of the petition have since been extended to May this year.