Matiang’i in trouble after new report sent to DPP

Senate Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights has recommended investigations to be carried out on Interior and Coordination Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang.

Matiang’i and Kipsang could face prosecution if found responsible for the loss of Sh1.5 billion in the acquisition of the controversial Ruaraka land.

The two are on the spot for allegedly ignoring recommendations of the Quality Assurance and Standards Assessment Report which indicated that the land on which Ruaraka High School was built on was public land, but went ahead to purchase it from businessman Francis Mburu.

The report seen by Pulselive.co.ke was directed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

The Senate Committee gave the investigative bodies three months to probe the matter.

“The then CS Dr Fred Matiang’i and PS Belio Kipsang be held responsible and further be investigated and if found culpable be prosecuted for occasioning loss of Sh1.5 billion,” the report reads in part.

Senate also recommended the investigation of National Land Commission (NLC) Chairman Mohammed Swazuri, his vice chairAbigael Mukolwe and other officials at the Commission.

Investigations will be also be carried out at the Ministry of Lands to find out why it failed to conclude the issuance of title deed in Ruaraka High School and register government interest on the land prior to 2012.

The controversy of Ruraka land

Mr. Mburu claims to be the owner of 13.7-acre property occupied by Ruaraka High and Drive Inn Primary schools.

However, different Government agencies have a different narrative regarding the ownership of the Ruaraka land.

NLC which initiated a payment of Sh1.5 billion to acquire the land from Mburu says that it is a private property, a narrative also upheld by the Ministry of Lands.

However, an internal probe by the Ministry of Education showed that the land was public yet compensation to Mr Mburu was approved by the same Ministry despite this finding.

How a compensation of Sh1.5 billion was made to Mburu has become the center of controversy with the Ministry put on the spot to explain why the Government was buying land from itself.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, who appeared before a Senate Committee investigating the matter divulged that the land is public property.

According to Sonko’s testimony, Mburu gave up ownership of part of his land as a requirement from the Nairobi County Government to developers– making it a public property.

The Governor presented documents to support his position.