• Wabukala hands over property worth Sh626 million
• Those who steal public property should not live to enjoy it
Image: MONICAH MWANGI
The EACC wants people convicted of corruption to serve life sentences.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson, retired Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, has asked Parliament to pass a bill to that effect.
He spoke yesterday in Nakuru during the handover of 12 parcels of land recovered in the Nakuru and Bomet counties. The properties are worth Sh626.6 million.
“We propose that the National Assembly comes up with legislation that will see corrupt individuals given life terms. This will ensure there is severe punishment for those found guilty,” he said.
Wabukala called for proper governance structures to avert corruption and protect public property and funds.
“The EACC’s strategic plan for the year is to ensure a country that is run with integrity. People who steal public property and funds should not enjoy ill-gotten wealth,” he said.
Wabukala said unemployment can only be addressed effectively if corruption is dealt with. He said there are numerous corruption cases in court and the EACC has begun adopting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in assets recovery.
“We are asking Kenyans who may be owing grabbed land to return it. We also appeal on Kenyans and the media to assist us in recovering the assets,” Wabukala said.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak promised to work with other institutions to repossess grabbed land.
"As a commission, we are adopting the proactive approach in dealing with corruption and will review our systems," he said.
Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui said land grabbing as a monster difficult to tackle as beneficiaries fight back.
“Nakuru is one of the counties hit hard by land grabbing. It is an impediment to achieving the Big Four agenda as far as food security is concerned. Land meant for research has been grabbed by cartels,” the governor said.
Kinyanjui said the high value of land in urban centres is a magnet for grabbers and called for collective efforts to fight the vice.
"Schools, hospitals and research institutions are not spared by land grabbers. Governors support the fight against corruption and the public should join the fight," he said.
State Department of Housing and Urban Development PS Charles Hinga, chief administrative secretaries Gideon Mungaro (Lands) and Nelson Gaichuhie (Treasury) were present.
The land handed over included Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation's 140 hectares in Naivasha worth Sh490 million, four civil servants houses valued at Sh74.2 million in Ngei Estate, two plots at Survey Camp near Kanu Street worthSh42 million and school land estimated to be worth Sh8 million, a plot in Nakuru CBD belonging to Postal Corporation valued at Sh150 million, and two parcels in Bomet set aside for a stadium worth Sh1.2 million.
Also at the function were Bomet Deputy Governor Hillary Barchok, Nakuru County assembly speaker Joel Maina Kairu and Karlo general manager Eliud Kiplimo.