Lawmakers have launched investigations into how 34 acres of land meant for Lang’ata Women’s Prison were illegally taken and transferred to private developers, leaving the correctional facility with nothing despite the land still being officially part of Ngong Forest.
During a sitting with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday, the National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation questioned how the property changed hands through irregular allocations involving companies and a former legislator.
Committee chairperson Raphael Wanjala directed the DCI to table a status report within two months after revealing the land is currently occupied by private entities that have built residential estates.
Documents presented to Parliament show that the land was originally reserved for the expansion of Nairobi Prison (Lang’ata Women’s Prison), but the prison department never benefited.
“Based on the preliminary investigation and analysis of the evidentiary documents collected and reports, the investigation has observed that the land in question was not de-gazetted in accordance with Section 4 of the repealed Forest Act, Cap 385 of 1942,” reads a DCI report signed by George Kisaka.
The DCI told MPs that the 34 acres were fraudulently allocated to three initial allottees, two companies and a former MP, who later subdivided and sold the land to third parties. Many of the buyers have since constructed houses, with some claiming to have bought the land innocently.
The report further indicates that the land excision was never completed. Parcel LR No 12688, measuring 14.27 hectares, had been earmarked for exchange with land at the Industrial Area prison, but the process stalled midway.
As a result, the entire 35-acre parcel ended up in private hands. The prison, which accommodates about 1,000 inmates, remains without any title documents for the land.
The probe has been complicated by the absence of critical records. Kisaka explained that efforts to trace documents at the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning have been unsuccessful, while attempts to get copies of old proclamations from the Government Printer were also unsuccessful.
“Way forward, Trace, interrogate, and record statements from former Commissioners of Lands, Chief Conservators of Forests, and Commissioners of Prisons (specifically 1985-1998) and other persons/companies of interest,” the DCI report states.
Records tabled in Parliament show that the land was allocated to Arladyks Investments Limited before being transferred to Jackim Limited in February 1994, and later sold to Kenya Medical Association Housing Cooperative Society in April 1998.
The cooperative subdivided the land into 113 plots and put up residential units, which it still occupies.
Another portion was allocated to Prilscot Company Limited in June 1993, later changing its user from open residential to private dwelling before being sold to Gravity Exporters Limited in November 1994. It was then transferred to Assumption Sisters of Nairobi Registered Trustees in March 1999.
The section allocated to the former MP in July 1993 was subdivided into 11 plots, which now host developments such as Shalom Court Estate, Lang’ata Gardens Estate, Lang’ata View Estate, and St Mary’s Educational Centre Hospital.
Some of the named owners include Beige Investments, Muna Mburu Kirgu Estate, Josephat Mburu Kiragu, and Peter Irungu Macharia.
According to the parliamentary report, officers from the Commissioner of Lands, the Chief Conservator of Forests, and the Commissioner of Prisons were among the beneficiaries of the irregular transfers.
The land remains legally part of Ngong Forest as it was never de-gazetted despite approval by the then Chief Conservator of Forests between 1985 and 1993.