The High Court has issued orders freezing multi-billion assets owned by Thika Land Registrar Felix Mecha Nyakundi, suspected to be proceeds of corruption.
This follows a case filed by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) which is investigating the official on cases of unexplained wealth, abuse of office and embezzlement of public funds.
Among the assets frozen by the High Court include 106 prime land parcels and commercial buildings in different counties, 17 high-end vehicles and Ksh4,260,000 in cash.
“EACC has, today, secured orders from the High Court freezing multi-billion wealth including 106 prime land parcels and commercial buildings in different counties, 17 high-end vehicles and Kes. 4,260,000 in cash belonging to Thika Land Registrar Felix Mecha Nyakundi,” the antigraft watchdog revealed.
The orders will be in force for six months pending the finalization of ongoing investigations against the Thika lands official, who previously served in Baringo County.
The orders were issued by Lady Justice Esther Maina who concurred with EACC that unless the preservation orders are granted, the properties may be transferred, sold, charged or otherwise wasted thereby jeopardizing the intended forfeiture to the government.
Through its advocate Pius Nyoike, EACC told the High Court that Nyakundi has accumulated wealth that is not commensurate with his known legitimate sources.
The Commission contends that based on its preliminary investigations, Nyakundi cannot practically have amassed such wealth through lawful and legitimate means and in the absence of any satisfactory explanation, his accumulated wealth can only be proceeds of corruption hence liable to forfeiture to the Government of Kenya.
The orders by Justice Maina prohibit Felix Mecha Nyakundi, implicated family members and associates, whether by themselves or through their agents or servants from selling, transferring, disposing of, wasting, charging or in any other way dealing with the 106 properties and 17 motor vehicles for the next six months.
City Hall employee
In February, the High Court declined to unfreeze the assets of a City Hall employee who is accused of amassing Ksh643 million through corruption.
Justice Nixon Sifuna declined a request by Wilson Nahashon Kanani, a public officer employed by the Nairobi City County Government, to lift orders that froze and barred him from dealing with his properties including Ksh48 million held in various bank accounts, and several vehicles.
Judge Sifuna concurred with EACC that it was improper for him to set aside the orders pending the determination of a forfeiture suit on Kanani’s Ksh643.2 million worth of assets whose source he could not explain.
“I declined to discharge the interim orders. The orders of September 13, 2023, by Justice Esther Maina, shall continue to abide by the logical conclusion of the matter,” Justice Sifuna ruled.
The orders were first issued on September 13, 2023, by Justice Esther Maina who ordered pending the hearing of a case that had been filed by the commission to have Kanani’s multi-million property forfeited to the state since they are proceeds of crime.
EACC filed the case following investigations into an allegation that Kanani, a Development Control Officer II at the Urban Planning Department of Nairobi City County Government, earning a monthly gross salary of Ksh88,530 had accumulated assets whose value was above his known legitimate sources of income.
