The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered public property worth Ksh.410 million stolen from the Kisumu County Government.

According to the anti-graft commission, the recovered property consists of a prime tract of land in the Kisumu Dunga neighborhood worth Ksh.60 million, with a storey building dubbed the Sunshine Villas worth Ksh.350 million built on it by the alleged grabbers.

PHOTO | COURTESY EACC Recovers 

"Sunshine Villas had charged the title together with other titles to the Bank of Baroda for a loan of Ksh.180,000,000," the EACC said.

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According to their findings, the site was set aside for use by the Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company Limited (KIWASCO), which routed 20-inch pipes that collect water from a water intake plant in Lake Victoria to the water treatment plant near the Villas.

According to the commission, Sunshine Villas filed a petition against the Kisumu County Government in 2018, claiming ownership of the property and Ksh.250 million in damages for the demolition of their building.

Sunshine Villas asked for and received a court order allowing them to continue construction that same year.

PHOTO | COURTESY EACC

"The County Government had attempted to stop the construction since it would prevent the intended expansion of water supply to increased city population," according to the EACC.

Construction is alleged to have begun up to 2020, creating a three-story apartment building, which caused pipe damage and affected water distribution.

"Further, the building was not safe with the big pipes underneath because in the event there was a spillage, it would lead to the collapse of the building," it added.

At the case's second hearing, Justice Samson Okong'o decided that Sunshine Villas occupied the land illegally, and their ownership was declared null and void.

The Kisumu Land Registrar was also ordered to revoke the current illegal ownership and provide a Certificate of Lease to the Kisumu County Government in order to reclaim the land for the government.