The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has started investigations into the irregular land allocations in Kisumu County amid public outcry that some plots had either been irregularly allotted, double allotted or illegally acquired.

Some prime plots are traced to the city’s Mamboleo estate, Kanyakwar, Mlimani, Kondele, Manyatta, Dunga Beach and around Airport.

EACC Regional Director Abraham Kemboi said they had launched investigations to clean the lands records in the city and the sub-counties to rid the lands sector of graft.

“We are going to scan the records, carry out physical visits to the sites just to ensure compliance and authenticity of the right plots or parcel owners,’’ said Kemboi.

Since there have been rumours that some land cartels were involved in shady land dealings, the public has repeatedly urged the authorities to drive them out of the city.

More than 100 complaints involving erroneous plot allocations or double sales are currently being resolved in the local courts.

Several innocent land buyers have fallen prey to land fraud that will stand at the centre of the EACC's inquiries.

Further, he claimed that some private developers had illegally encroached on the government land.

This made it cumbersome for them to reclaim the plots for productive use.

“Some of the plots stood on the markets and some were on road reserves,” he said.

Recent efforts to reclaim the parcels to build markets and open up city-accessory access roads have been futile.

The Kisumu High Court's location has already been seized by the Commission from a private developer who held the title deed, according to an announcement made by Kemboi.

He promised that more reclamation would occur and the Commission would shortly provide the Chief Justice with the property ownership deed.