Lawmakers are considering involving investigative agencies to probe an alleged scheme by insiders at the National Land Commission (NLC) to transfer prime land belonging to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) to private interests.
Members of the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy are seeking explanations from NLC leaders regarding the decision to hand over the land to the Nairobi county government.
KICC, which falls under the national government, has reportedly been sidelined in the process, with NLC writing to the county government as the vesting authority for the land where Garden Square restaurant and Comesa parking lot are located. This communication effectively gives the county government the power to determine land allocation.
The committee, led by Pokot South MP David Pkosing, expressed concerns over the alleged favoritism shown by NLC towards certain entities interested in the disputed land. There are suspicions of collusion with “cartels” influencing the decision-making process.
MPs have ordered a halt to any activities regarding the reallocation of the land, including a parcel near the Foreign Affairs office, until NLC bosses, including Chairman Gershom Otachi and CEO Tabale Tache, provide satisfactory responses to the claims. The absence of these officials during the committee meeting raised further questions about accountability.
Among the issues raised by MPs were NLC’s rationale for vesting the land in the county government instead of the national government, and the exclusion of KICC from the communication loop between NLC and the county government.
While NLC maintains that it can only allocate land at the request of the County Executive Committee (CEC) or the Land minister, MPs question the transparency of the process and the possible motives behind NLC’s actions.
The committee is adamant about uncovering the truth behind the alleged land scheme and ensuring that KICC’s interests are protected. They have cautioned NLC against any further actions regarding the disputed land until the matter is thoroughly investigated.
Overall, there are concerns about potential collusion, deliberate frustration towards KICC, and the need for clarity on land ownership and allocation processes.
