By Dorothy Musyoka
In a significant legal development, the High Court has issued an order preventing the planned auction of a parcel of public land in Nakuru that had been unlawfully acquired from the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway in the Soilo Area.
The order was granted following an urgent application by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The land, charged to Eco Bank by Hashi Energy Ltd, was on the verge of being auctioned after the company defaulted on a KES 40 million loan.
“The High Court has granted EACC orders stopping planned auction of public land grabbed from the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) along Nakuru-Eldoret Highway at the Soilo area within Nakuru town.Hashi energy Ltd, based in Nakuru, charged the land to Eco Bank for a loan but defaulted payment,” stated EACC.
However, Justice Charles Kariuki, in his ruling on the EACC’s application, prohibited Eco Bank and Hashi Energy Ltd from selling, charging, alienating, auctioning, or otherwise disposing of the land.
According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) this injunction will remain in effect pending the hearing and determination of the EACC’s application.
“In his ruling on the EACC Application filed under a Certificate of Urgency, Justice Charles Kariuki prohibited Eco Bank and Hashi Energy Ltd from selling, charging, alienating, auctioning or otherwise disposing of the land pending hearing and determination of the EACC Application,” EACC explained.
This parcel is part of a larger 165-acre property, valued at over KES 10 billion, which was originally public land belonging to the ATC.
The land was grabbed by more than 50 private entities, sparking a comprehensive investigation by the EACC aimed at recovering the land and returning it to public use.
The Commission is also pursuing legal action against those responsible for the illegal acquisition.
The auction, which was scheduled for today, Friday, August 23, 2024, has now been stopped, providing a significant victory in the ongoing efforts to protect public assets and hold accountable those who attempt to profit from unlawful activities.