The anti-corruption commission has launched investigations into the purchase of 11 acres of land by the county for Sh308 million at Mtwapa.
The land, for a market and bus park project, was bought in October 2014 during Governor Amason Kingi’s first tenure with the current Kilifi North MP Dr Owen Baya serving as county secretary.
Local activists have questioned the cost of the property estimated at Sh28 million per acre. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) launched investigations last week following a request by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The anti-graft agency wrote a letter to the county secretary on December 19 requesting for documents in respect of Mr Baya. The document shows it was received by Mkare. Yesterday, Mr Baya questioned the authenticity of the letter.
The amount allocated for the purchase of the bus park and market raised concerns among the locals which led to the EACC to interrogate several top officials in the county government.
The county advertised for the purchase of land in October 2014 for a minimum of 10 acres, on the main Mombasa-Malindi highway and no more than four kilometres from the Mtwapa bridge.
On April 1, 2015, the county notified Furure Link Ltd through a letter Ref No CG/KLF/ADM/67/VOL.1/110 of their acceptance offer. “Your tender for the purchase of land amounting to Sh 308,189,651.00 exclusive of all taxes and incidentals is hereby accepted,” stated the letter by Roads and Public Works Chief Officer CK Kazungu. The title deeds to the land were issued to Future Links Ltd on October, 1, 2014.
On April 20, 2015, Future Link Ltd through its manager Bryon Mwangola in a letter addressed to the chief officer, accepted the tender and pledged to comply with the requirements.
On November 29, 2016, Kilifi Lobby Group, through its chairperson Emmanuel Ndurya, wrote to the county assembly requesting for documents of the land.
[Article source: Standard Media, by Maureen Ongala]
