The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched a fresh legal bid to recover a nine-acre parcel of public land in Kahawa Sukari, Ruiru, which was allegedly grabbed and converted into private residential property.
According to court documents filed at the Thika Environment and Lands Court, the land—Ruiru/Kiu Block 3/1372—was initially set aside for the construction of a secondary school within the Kahawa Sukari Residential Scheme but was later illegally sold and subdivided for residential use.
The commission stated that the land was carved out from Land Reference No. 10901/20, owned and developed by Kahawa Sukari Limited, which had been required by the Commissioner of Lands to allocate specific parcels for public amenities, including schools, as a condition for project approval.
However, in 2005, the company sold the school land to James Mwangi Wagura and Lucy Waruguru Wagura before any development began, violating lease terms that mandated construction within 24 months of lease issuance.
“The sale contravened the lease agreement, which required that failure to develop the designated school or change its use would lead to automatic reversion of the land to the government,” the EACC said in its filings.
The commission further noted that in 2015, the new owners sought and obtained an irregular change of use from educational to residential, approved by the then Kiambu County Director of Physical Planning. The property was subsequently subdivided into 37 residential plots (Ruiru/Kiu Block 3/3704–3729), with new leases issued to the private owners.
EACC is now seeking court orders to revoke the illegal titles and have the land restored for public use, saying the transaction amounted to unlawful conversion of public property meant for community benefit.
