By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has handed over land valued at Ksh.5 billion and cash assets worth Ksh.511 million to the National Treasury as part of its efforts to curb corruption in the public sector.
In a ceremony witnessed by His Excellency President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, EACC has handed over to the Government 35 title deeds for corruptly acquired public land worth approximately Kes.5 billion recovered from grabbers on behalf of various public institutions.
According to EACC the assets handed over today are part of stolen public property worth Kes.28 billion that the Commission has traced and recovered from the grabbers in the last five years.
Chief Executive Officer of the Commission Twalib Mbarak explained that asset tracing is one of the commission’s key pillars in eliminating corruption.
Among the Land recovered by the Commission is 1.88-acre land in Kisumu, owned by the Judiciary worth Ksh.1.4 billion, 3.25 acres of land in Eldoret valued at approximately Ksh.1.2 billion, 0.5 acres of land in Kilimani valued at Ksh.700 million and 15 parcels of land alleged to be owned by Kisii County Government valued at Ksh.135 million.
“We are gathered to witness the handing over of 35 titles, measuring approximately 18.71 acres with a total value of about Ksh.5 billion,” said Twalib Mbarak.
While speaking in the event President William Ruto emphasized on the importance of curbing corruption by eliminating loopholes within all levels of governments citing that they are threat to country’s economy.
“Corruption is a serious threat to our nation. It undermines service delivery, weakens public policy, compromises the public interest, and erodes our institutions, depriving the government of the capacity to secure the country and deliver development,” President Ruto said.
Additionally the president noted that the government is committed to work with EACC to enforce accountability to ensure service delivery.
“We will build the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s (EACC) capacity to enforce integrity and accountability. This will foster a facilitative environment that advances Kenya’s transformative agenda and boost service delivery,” noted President Ruto.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission said that the tracing and recovery of corruptly acquired assets and unexplained wealth serves to extinguish the benefit obtained from corrupt conduct.