A Kenyan court ordered the return of 7 hectares of land illegally taken from Karura Forest and Kenya Technical Teachers College after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission proved fraud. Justice David Mwangi voided land titles given to Gigiri Court Limited and John Kamotho in the 1980s and 1990s, ruling that officials exceeded their authority when they approved the transfer without proper degazettement notices.
The commission found that surveyors created false documents to consolidate forest parcels into a single plot, which was later sold to developers. The court rejected claims by buyers who said they purchased the property in good faith, stating fraudulent titles carry no legal protection regardless of subsequent ownership.
The verdict strengthens government efforts to reclaim public assets after the Ndung'u Land Commission identified politically connected figures who grabbed protected areas. The Kenya Forest Service will manage the recovered territory as part of Nairobi's northern green belt.
The commission found that surveyors created false documents to consolidate forest parcels into a single plot, which was later sold to developers. The court rejected claims by buyers who said they purchased the property in good faith, stating fraudulent titles carry no legal protection regardless of subsequent ownership.
The verdict strengthens government efforts to reclaim public assets after the Ndung'u Land Commission identified politically connected figures who grabbed protected areas. The Kenya Forest Service will manage the recovered territory as part of Nairobi's northern green belt.
