Professor Swazuri Charged With Graft

National Lands Commission Chief Prof. Mohammed Abdala Swazuri appearing before Anti- Corruption Court, in Milimani.

National Lands Commission Chief Prof. Mohammed Abdala Swazuri and sixteen others were charged in an Anti-corruption Commission court with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, namely fraud, thereby causing a loss of public funds belonging to Kenya Railways Corporation amounting to Kshs. 221,375,000/= for compensation for acquisition of L.R. Nos. 9084, 9085, 9086, 9087 and 9088 being public land.

Appearing before Anti- Corruption Senior Principal Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi, Prof. Swazuri was faced with six counts of abuse of office which is contrary to Section 46 as read with Section 48 of the Anti-corruption And Economic Crimes Act, no. 3 of 2003 and one alternative charge related to the breach of trust contrary to Section 127 (1) as read with Section 127 (2) of the Penal Code.

According to the Charge sheet, Prof. Swazuri, Chairman of the Lands Commission was accused of using his office to improperly confer a benefit, and facilitating the award of compensation for parcel LR. NO. 9085 in favour of Dasahe Investments and Olomotit Estate Limited Ltd. whose title had been revoked by the Review of Grants and Dispositions of Land Committee of the National Land Commission for being illegally acquired public land. In an alternative Charge, Prof. Swazuri was accused of breach of trust by unlawfully facilitating payment of Kshs. 221,375,000/= in respect of property L. R. Nos. 9085, 9086, 9087 and 9088.

Dr. Salome Ludenyi Munubi, Mr. Tom Chavangi Aziz, Pro. Swazuri, Mr. Atanas Kariuki Maina and Mr. Francis Karimi Mugo in handcuffs appearing in an Anti-Corruption Court.

Other accused were Dr. Salome Ludenyi Munubi, Director Valuation and Taxation Committee at the Lands Commission, Mr. Tom Chavangi Aziz, the Chief Executive Officer and Francis Karimi Mugo Director, Finance and Administration. Dr. Salome was accused of breached the trust by unlawfully facilitating payment of Kshs 221,375,000/=as compensation for L. R. NO: 9085, 9086, 9087 and 9088 which were public land, causing loss of public money thereby affecting interests of the public. Mr. Tom and Francis face the charge of using their offices to improperly confer a benefit by authorizing payment of Kshs.221,375,000/= to Keibukwo Investment Limited as compensation for parcels of Land, LR. NO. 9085, 9086, 9087 and 9088, whose titles had been revoked by the Review of Grants and Dispositions of Land Committee of the said Commission for being illegally acquired public land.