EACC sleuths raid Swazuri's home over Standard Gauge graft claims
National Lands Commission chairman Muhammad Swazuri appearing before the National Assembly Lands Committee on March 29, 2017 where he is being investigated for alleged corruption. FILE PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NMG
Raid occasioned by suspected graft involving Standard Gauge Railway compensation.
Also raided are homes of vice chairman Abigael Mbagaya Mukolwe and chief executive officer Tom Aziz Changingi.
Anti corruption detectives have raided the home of National Land Commission (NLC) chairman Muhammad Swazuri.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) spokesperson Yasin Aila said the raid was occasioned by suspected graft in compensating individuals and institutions affected by the Standard Gauge Railway project.
Some of the issues the anti-graft watchdog says it is looking into include compensation to individuals for public land, double compensation, compensation to people who did not own land acquired for SGR project, excessive compensation as a result of over valuation and compensation in regard to the Kenya Railway Reserve land.
Also raided are homes of NLC vice chairman Abigael Mbagaya Mukolwe and chief executive officer Tom Aziz Changingi.
The homes of several other members of the lands body's top management were also raided.
“So far important documents helpful to the investigations have been identified and recovered,” said Mr Aila, adding that the EACC will forward a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions once investigations are complete.
The NLC is also being investigated by the National Assembly Lands Committee over large payments made in December last year.
The Commission's secretariat was accused of withholding information on the matter.
Among the plots of land in question are at least five parcels in Embakasi with a combined value of Sh215 million.
