There have been controversies surrounding the state-owned Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC).
The ADC land found in Magarini constituency in Kilifi county is believed to have been shared among powerful KANU politicians during retired President Daniel Arap Moi’s tenure, rendering many people from the region squatters.
But how was the land shared? Who are the people who benefited from the huge tracts of land? Well, a document tabled before the National Assembly’s agricultural Committee has unearthed more details.
The documents show how retired President Moi’s relatives allocated hundreds of acres of the land to powerful Kanu politicians.
According to the documents, Gideon Toroitich, Mzee Moi’s nephew, together with former powerful Cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae dished out the land belonging to ADC in unclear circumstances.
The documents show Nyachae was among 125 individuals and companies who benefited from the large tracts of land.
Nyachae bought 17.815 acres in 2006 at Sh343,000 despite the land, according to ADC, not being on sale.
Gideon is said to be former Managing Director of the Agricultural Finance Corporation and had relations with Moi’s family.
Former Moi ally and powerful politician Ezekiel Barng’etuny was allocated 14 acres in 1995 for Sh288,000.
Among the big names that benefitted from the illegal transations were former minister Katana Ngala, late former Cabinet ministers Kipkalya Kones, former Egerton University vice chancellor James Tuitoek Francis, Kiprui Sang, former assistant minister Abubakary Badawy, former MP Jonathan Katana Nzai and Kanu nominated senator in the 11th Parliament Ziporah Kitony.
The National Assembly’s Lands Committee heard that land sales to powerful and well-connected politicians from 1994 to 2006 was never sanctioned by the ADC board.
This happened despite another corporation’s subsidiary company – Lands Limited – defying the board and selling the property.