The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered part of the idyllic Chale Island in Kwale which it says were fraudulently hived off.

This follows last week’s court ruling, which determined that the land had been unlawfully seized by a group of private investors.

Justice Addraya Dena, sitting in Kwale, ruled that Chale Island is not available for allocation and that EACC, on a balance of probability, proved its case against the defendants.

Chale Island is a tropical haven with mangrove forests and green coral reefs as its lush green vegetation, and for discerning tourists, this exclusive sandy island is the absolute dream location.

The recovery was through 32 civil suits filed in Kwale Environment and Land Court against Manmohan Kaur Kalsi, Director of Swahili Beach Resorts, and others.

EACC says the recovered 32-acre piece of land with an estimated value of more than Sh1.2 billion belonged to the government and sits on a marine national reserve under the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the National Museums of Kenya (NMK).

Part of the recovered parcel of land is Kaya Forest, which is regarded by locals as the abode of ancestors, is revered as sacred, and, as such, is maintained by councils of elders.

EACC chief executive Maj. (Rtd.) Twalib Mbarak says they have successfully prosecuted and won a case it filed in 2020, where it sought an order directing the Land Registrar to rectify by cancelling all entries related to the issuance of title deeds over the parcels of land on the scenic island.

Mbarak termed asset recovery through the judicial process a milestone in the fight against land grabbers and cartels in the country.

According to Mbarak, the recovered land had been subdivided and allocated to ghost squatters alleged to be members of the Kinondo Chale Settlement Scheme, who later sold it to private investors.

The anti-graft boss, who was accompanied by EACC Commissioner in Charge of Asset Recovery Colonel (Rtd) Alfred Mshimba, was addressing the media at Chale Island.