Court orders recovery of 17-acre Karura Forest land worth Ksh2.8 billion illegally allocated to Ex-Minister Joseph Kamotho

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered a 17-acre parcel of land that was illegally hived off Karura Forest nearly three decades ago.

In a ruling delivered by the Nairobi Environment and Land Court on October 23, 2025, the land valued at Ksh2.8 billion was found to have been unlawfully allocated to former Cabinet minister Joseph Kamotho in 1997 before being sold to private developers.

According to EACC, the land grabbing was orchestrated with the help of two former land commissioners who are now set to face accountability measures.

Court documents revealed that the contested land comprised two parcels initially set aside for the Kenya Technical Teachers College (KTTC) and part of Karura Forest, both classified as public land.

“The Court held that the land was alienated Government Land, and its allocation to Hon. Kamotho was contrary to the Forest Act and the Government Lands Act,” read part of EACC’s statement.

EACC further noted that the court reaffirmed Article 40(6) of the Constitution, which disqualifies protection of unlawfully acquired property, nullifying the argument of first registration.

Out of the recovered land, 16 acres will revert to Karura Forest, while one acre will be handed back to KTTC.

EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud said the ruling reinforces ongoing efforts to reclaim grabbed public assets. “The Commission remains committed to ensuring all public land illegally acquired is restored to the people of Kenya,” he stated.

This recovery comes barely two months after EACC repossessed a Ksh35 million government plot in Bungoma County, where a private individual had demolished a state house and built a maisonette.

The anti-graft body says it is intensifying land recovery operations targeting properties unlawfully taken from public institutions and critical ecological zones.