The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered public assets worth more than KSh126 million that had been irregularly acquired by private individuals across Bungoma, Kakamega and Busia counties, marking a major milestone in the fight against corruption and the protection of public resources in Western region.
The Commission said the recoveries, undertaken through investigations, litigation, court judgments and voluntary surrender by individuals found to be in possession of public property, are part of a broader asset recovery programme aimed at restoring public land to its rightful owners, the people of Kenya.
According to the Commission, an additional KSh127 million worth of public assets remains under active recovery in the region as investigations and court processes continue.
“EACC’s mandate goes beyond investigating corruption. We are committed to tracing, recovering and restoring public assets that were illegally acquired. Asset recovery is about ensuring that corruption does not pay and that public resources are returned to serve the citizens for whom they were intended,” the Commission said.
The Commission noted that every recovered parcel of land represents schools, hospitals, government offices, housing and other public services that had been denied to residents after public property was diverted into private hands.
In Bungoma County, the Commission recovered several prime government properties that had been irregularly transferred to private ownership, particularly within Milimani Estate in Bungoma Town.
Among the most significant recoveries is a half-acre parcel valued at approximately KSh35 million, originally reserved for government housing.
EACC reports that the original government residence on the land had been demolished and replaced with a private maisonette before investigations commenced.
Following legal proceedings, the Environment and Land Court in October 2025 ordered that the property be restored to the Government of Kenya.
“The court affirmed that the property belonged to the public. It has now been restored and is available once again for public use,” the Commission said.
The Commission also recovered a quarter-acre parcel valued at approximately KSh7 million located adjacent to the Bungoma State Lodge after investigations established that it had been excised from land belonging to a State agency.
The property was voluntarily surrendered during investigations.
In addition, another parcel originally reserved for the State Department for Housing and Urban Development and valued at KSh14.5 million was surrendered voluntarily and now accommodates offices for the National Treasury.
An adjoining parcel valued at approximately Sh14 million also belonging to the State Department for Housing and Urban Development was similarly restored during investigations and currently houses county offices for the department.
In addition, two government residential houses valued at approximately Sh7 million each were recovered, with one returned voluntarily and the other restored following a court judgment.
Beyond government housing, EACC also recovered land belonging to Bungoma National Polytechnic safeguarding land reserved for educational purposes from private occupation.
The Commission further disclosed that another property, which had been leased to the county government despite having been irregularly acquired by private individuals, remains under active recovery.
It noted that following its intervention, expenditure of public funds on the leased property was immediately stopped pending completion of recovery proceedings.
The recovery exercise also extended into Kakamega County, where five key government properties in Milimani Estate were restored to public ownership through voluntary surrender and court action.
Among them is Government House HG38 situated on a 0.17-acre parcel valued at approximately KSh4.5 million which was voluntarily surrendered immediately after the Commission issued a demand notice.
A larger 2.48-acre parcel hosting Government House MG1 valued at approximately KSh7 million was equally handed back during investigations.
The Commission also successfully recovered Government House MG40 valued at approximately KSh7 million through a court judgment delivered in 2023.
Another government residence Government House MG48 valued at around KSh6 million was similarly restored through judicial proceedings.
The highest-value recovery in Kakamega involved Government House HG22 estimated to be worth approximately Sh26 million which was returned to public ownership after the courts affirmed the government’s claim.
The Commission observed that although each property followed a different recovery path whether through voluntary surrender, investigations or litigation they all underscored the same principle that illegally acquired public assets can and should be returned to the public.
The Commission said recovery efforts are also underway in Busia County as part of its wider regional asset recovery strategy, with several cases at different stages of investigation and court determination.
While details of some of the Busia properties remain before the courts, EACC expressed confidence that additional public assets would soon be restored.
The Commission emphasized that asset recovery remains one of the most effective tools in the fight against corruption because it deprives offenders of the benefits obtained through illegal acquisition of public property.
“Every recovered asset tells the same story. Land meant for housing, education, security and delivery of essential public services had been diverted from its intended purpose. Through investigations, court action and voluntary surrender, these assets have now found their way back to the people of Kenya,” the Commission stated.
