Details have emerged how Senior Government officials aided Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri and other shadowy Companies to grab Ngong forest land.
The Politicians who included die hard KANU officials during the Moi regime managed to secure 34 acres of Ngong forest land in 1993.
Documents obtained by Hot News indicate the Government started plans to have the Langata Prison then known as the Nairobi Prison in 1984.
On 16th January 1985, the Chief Conservator of forests through a Mr J.Y Wawiye, wrote to the officer in charge Survey Branch approving excision of 34 acres of land from Ngong road forest for the Prison.
The land remained unutilized for almost 10 years.
The documents show that on 10th March 1993, the Commissioner of lands Wilson Gachanja through a Mr G.K Somba Kivalya wrote to the commissioner of Prisons that he had been informed the Prisons department was not in need of the land.
Somba asked the Commissioner of Prisons to relinquish the land.
On 15th March 1993, the commissioner of Prisons J.W Marbina wrote to the Commissioner of lands Wilson Gachanja that he has relinquished his interest on the parcel.
“Marked “H” on the sketch plot of the land at Langata Area within Nairobi. You may, therefore, reallocate it for residential development,” the Commissioner of prisons said.
On 18th March 1993, Gachanja through Mr G.K Somba Kivalya approved the land to be used for residential development.
He allocated the 34-acre Prison land to Arladyks Investments limited and Onesmus Kimani Ngunjiri.
Ngunjiri is the current Bahati MP and a close ally of DP William Ruto.
The Commissioner of lands said M/S Arladyks was a direct approval whereas Mr Ngunjiri’s was an alternative to an approval he had for Mombasa which was declined by the Prison authorities.
“Mr Ngunjiri’s initial approval was for 12.6 ha out of which he has gotten 6 ha and he is now getting portion B of the PDP which measures 5.66 ha,” the commissioner of lands said.
Ngunjiri’s parcel was sold to Sun Valley phase 1 which took over 3.66 ha.
Sun Valley Phase 1 divided part of its parcel to Langata Place Apartments.
The Man behind Sun Valley is former Konoin MP Sammy Koech.
Langata View Apartments also got a share of Njunjiri’s parcel and later gave part of the land Langata Gardens.
By the time of going to press, Hot News had not found out who are the people behind Arladyks Investments Limited and Prilscot Company limited.
Arladyks Investment limited was also the first to be allotted the prison land, it sold to Jackim Limited who sold to KMA.
Prilscot Company limited got 3.956 ha. They sold the land to Gravity Exporters limited who then sold it to St Mary’s Hospital.
Ina clear case of high level fraud, Sun Valley was able to get its Title deed on 1st March 1996 yet the gazette notice legalizing the excision of the forest to give it legal status was published on March 23, 1998 by Francis Lotodo the then Minister for Natural resources.
Speaking during the world environment day, President Uhuru Kenyatta vowed that all forest land must be reclaimed.
Environment CS Keriako Tobiko told MPs last week that the residents will have to surrender their titles and sign leases with the Kenya Forest Service.
Tobiko had threatened to use all legal means to reposes the titles.
Residents who have property worth millions on the land said they acquired it genuinely and asked the Government to spare them.
The developments are also next to a fuel pipeline carrying fuel to Eldoret.
List of Senior Government officials reportedly living or have houses in the targeted estates to be demolished in Langata
Michael Sialai- Clerk of the National Assembly
Kipchumba Murkomen- Elgeyo Marakwet Senator
Richard Kerich- Former NHIF MD
Richard Lang’at- former CEO/ Managing Trustee NSSF
Amos Njoroge Gathecha-Principal Administrative Secretary (National Treasury)
Dr James Nyikal – Current Seme MP and former Director of Medical Services (2 houses in KMA estate)
William Cheptumo- Baringo North Mp
Brigadier Mohammed Hassan – KDF Chief of Compensation and Welfare and former officer Commanding Langata Baracks.
Several Senior Parliamentary Staff
Senior Managers Cooperative Bank
Top Military Brass including Colonels and Captains
Several National Intelligence Service (NIS) officers.
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