The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered 31 acres of land worth Kes 1.2 billion from private developers on Kwale’s Chale Island.

EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak confirmed that Chale Island, a marine reserve and national monument of historical and cultural significance, has been restored to the public.

 “The land was acquired through collusion involving public officials and private developers under the guise of a squatter settlement scheme. The grabbed land was subdivided into 49 parcels and allocated to ghost squatters, who later sold it to private developers.”

Kwale Environment and Land Court Lady Justice Addreya Dena nullified all transactions leading to illegal land transfers in a judgment delivered on October 2, 2023.

 She ordered the Kwale District Land Registrar to cancel all illegal entries in the Register.

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Further, Mbarak cautioned against any attempts to re-grab the recovered Island, highlighting the ongoing issue of corrupt public officials colluding with new grabbers to fraudulently re-allocate public assets reclaimed by EACC.

The restoration of Chale Island to the Kwale community is a legal triumph and a cultural revival.

 The Kaya shrines at Chale Island have been returned to the Kwale community, enabling them to rebuild their cultural identity.

Additionally, Chale Island’s preservation as a marine national reserve will continue under the Kenya Wildlife Service.