A long-running battle over a prime piece of public land in Mombasa has finally come to an end, with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) recovering property valued at KSh51 million. The 0.514-acre parcel in Nyali, belonging to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), has been surrendered back to the public following an out-of-court settlement.
Highlights
- EACC has recovered KSh51 million worth of public land in Nyali.
- The 0.514-acre property belongs to KCAA.
- The dispute had been before the courts since 2009.
- The registered owner agreed to surrender the property through ADR.
- EACC is urging holders of illegally acquired public assets to voluntarily give them up.
Main Story
EACC Reclaims Nyali Property
The EACC has announced the recovery of a piece of public land in Nyali, Mombasa County, valued at approximately KSh51 million.
The property, identified as MN/I/2411, covers about 0.514 acres and is owned by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
Its return to public ownership follows an Alternative Dispute Resolution agreement reached on September 21, 2026.
Under the settlement, registered owner Omar Tahir agreed to hand the property back to the public.
Dispute Had Lasted for Years
The land had been at the centre of a legal dispute stretching back more than a decade.
EACC filed civil proceedings in 2009 at the Mombasa Environment and Land Court in a case involving Tahir, former Kuresoi Constituency MP Zakayo Kipkemboi Cheruiyot and former Commissioner of Lands Sammy Mwaita.
According to the commission’s investigations, the parcel was allegedly allocated irregularly in 2000 by the then Commissioner of Lands to Cheruiyot.
The property was later transferred to Tahir.
Settlement Brings Legal Battle to an End
After years of court proceedings, the parties opted for an alternative dispute resolution process.
The agreement allowed the property to revert to public ownership without the dispute having to continue through further litigation.
EACC said the settlement provides a resolution to a case that had remained in court for 17 years.
The commission welcomed the outcome, saying the land can now be preserved for the public purpose for which it was originally intended.
EACC Encourages Voluntary Surrender
The anti-corruption agency is now encouraging individuals holding public property that was allegedly acquired illegally or through irregular processes to consider voluntarily surrendering such assets.
According to EACC, doing so can help restore public resources while avoiding lengthy court battles and the additional costs associated with prolonged litigation.
The recovery also highlights the continuing legal efforts surrounding public land in Kenya, where ownership disputes and allegations of irregular allocation have remained a recurring issue.
For the public, the return of the Nyali parcel means an asset worth millions of shillings has been restored to state ownership after years of dispute.
When public property is lost through questionable dealings, recovery is not just about reclaiming land it is about restoring an asset that belongs to the public.
