The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has secured a major win in its fight against suspected corruption after the High Court froze billions of shillings worth of assets belonging to a former land registrar.
Justice Esther Maina granted EACC’s request to freeze 106 prime land parcels and commercial buildings located across different counties, 17 high-end vehicles, and Ksh. 4,260,000 in cash linked to Felix Mecha Nyakundi, who previously served as the Land Registrar in Thika and Baringo County.
The preservation orders, which will remain in effect for six months, are meant to prevent the disposal or transfer of the assets while investigations into suspected unexplained wealth, abuse of office, and embezzlement of public funds against Mr. Nyakundi are ongoing.
In its application, EACC, represented by Lawyer Pius Nyoike, argued that Mr. Nyakundi had amassed wealth far exceeding what could be explained by his legitimate income sources. Justice Maina concurred with EACC’s concerns, stating that without the freezing orders, the assets could be disposed of, jeopardizing the potential forfeiture to the government.
This case highlights the EACC’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption within Kenya’s public service. The outcome of the investigation into Mr. Nyakundi’s assets remains to be seen, but the freezing order serves as a significant step towards recovering potentially stolen public funds.
