Swazuri, 6 others arrested in SGR compensation saga

Muhammad Swazuri, the chairman of the National Lands Commission, is among seven top government officials arrested on Saturday morning.

Reports indicate that Kenya Railways MD Atanas Maina is now being sought by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

They are to face charges over what is alleged to be fraudulent Ksh.2.8billion compensation for the Standard Gauge Railway.

“The DPP has consented to charges against National Land Commission (NLC) Chair Dr Swazuri and others in relation to SGR compensation,” the DPP said on Twitter on Saturday morning.

They will spend the weekend in custody of the EACC and are to appear in court on Monday, chief executive Halakhe Wako said.

The others are Tom Aziz Chavangi (CEO National Lands Commission), Salome Munubi (NLC Director Valuation and Taxation), Francis Karimi Mugo (Director, Finance and Administration), Gladys Mwikali Muyanga (Land Registrar Ministry of Land and Physical Planning), Obadiah Mbugua Wainaina (a Licensed Surveyor).

In March this year, Parliament gave Swazuri’s wealth declaration forms to the EACC.

It was alleged that billions of shillings had been paid to individuals and companies that did not deserve compensation for the land through which the SGR would pass through.

According to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, the Lands Commission failed to provide accurate details of acreage, plot numbers, and valuation information 12 months after the compensation was paid out.

In July 2018, the EACC was then allowed access to the wealth declaration forms that would ordinarily only be accessible to Parliament.

However, the Public Office Ethics Act 2003 has it that the National Assembly can avail the documents solely for the purpose of investigations.

“The contents of a declaration or clarification under this Act shall be accessible to any person upon application to the responsible commission in the prescribed manner if the applicant shows to the satisfaction of the responsible commission that he or she has a legitimate interest and good cause in furtherance of the objectives of this Act,” the law states.