Developers feel the pinch of crackdown on land grabbers

The anti-corruption commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are on the spot for “frustrating” private developers through the placement of caveats on land suspected to have been acquired irregularly.

The investors, according to cases filed in court, are protesting delayed completion of investigations into the properties.

Some of the investors have moved to court seeking orders to force the two government watchdogs to lift the caveats placed on their properties to pave the way for their development or disposal.

For instance, a private investor has sued the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for failure to complete investigations into the ownership of a multimillion shilling property in Nyeri town.

The land registered as Nyeri/Municipality Block 1/1088 measuring 0.140 hectares is situated along Nyeri-Kamakwa road next to Outspan Hospital. He says the commission, together with the Chief Land Registrar, started investigations on February 8, 2012.

The registrar, with instructions from EACC, placed a restriction order on the land, prohibiting any dealings or development “awaiting finalisation of certain undisclosed investigations”.

He says the period taken to investigate the matter is inordinate, bearing in mind that he purchased the property through the appropriate channels and all fees, including stamp duties, raised and paid.

He wants the court to order the removal of the restriction and compensation for losses in anticipated earnings. The EACC filed a memorandum of appearance in the case through Mogi AM Advocates but it is yet to file its response.