EACC recovers Mombasa public land worth Ksh.281M

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has secured court victories leading to the recovery of public land in Mombasa valued at Sh281 million, in what the agency says are landmark judgments by the Environment and Land Court.

In a press briefing issued on Monday, February 23, 2026, the Commission said the recoveries relate to parcels on Mombasa Island that had been unlawfully allocated and transferred to private individuals despite being reserved for public use.

In the first matter, involving consolidated suits ELC 64 and 65 of 2020 alongside ELC 180 of 2015 filed by the Kenya Railways Corporation, the court restored ownership of Mombasa/Block 1/525 and Mombasa/Block 1/526 along Shimanzi Road to Kenya Railways.

The court found the parcels — which had been reserved for railway tenants and future road expansion — were unlawfully allocated in 1994 to Zaharia Mohamed Mawia and later transferred to third parties.

In a judgment delivered on February 13, 2026, Justice L. L. Naikuni declared the allocations unlawful and ordered cancellation of the titles and restoration of the properties to public ownership.

The two parcels are valued at Sh175 million.

In a separate judgment delivered on February 3, 2026, Justice Y. M. Angima nullified the lease over Mombasa Island/Block XI/937 along Tom Mboya Avenue (formerly Tudor Road) after finding it was a designated road reserve.

The court ordered the property to revert to the Commission. EACC said a former Commissioner of Lands was fined Sh2 million for misfeasance in public office, with the parcel valued at Sh15 million.

The Commission further said it has also recovered additional parcels along the same corridor valued at Sh91 million, and continues to encourage voluntary surrender of unlawfully allocated road reserve plots.

EACC said the recoveries reflect its broader asset recovery mandate and are intended to send a message that illegally acquired public assets will be reclaimed regardless of how much time has passed.

The agency added that over the past year it has stepped up asset recovery efforts, filing more than 79 recovery suits seeking assets valued at about Sh4.8 billion — the highest in five years — and successfully recovering Sh3.4 billion.

EACC said its asset recovery mandate is anchored in the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA) and the EACC Act, which empower the Commission to institute court proceedings for recovery and protection of public property, including freezing and confiscation of proceeds of corruption.