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The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) yesterday arrested a former Baringo County Chief Officer for lands and a private valuer over alleged Sh24 million-land fraud. 

Dorcas Kandie, former Chief Officer for Lands, Housing and Urban Development was nabbed alongside Dominic Odondi, a proprietor of Adomag Valuers and Associates Company.

Confirming the arrests, EACC South Rift regional manager Ignatius Wekesa said the two facilitated procurement of a 7.8-acre piece of land at an inflated purchase price.

According to Wekesa, the land was purchased at Sh24.3 million against the market value of Sh8 million which he noted was three times the price of the said land.

He revealed that Kandie, being a public officer, used her position to improperly facilitate the purchase, leading to loss of public funds.

“In 2016 we received a complaint that the county government of Baringo wanted to purchase land for construction of staff houses for employees, with the said ministry given a go ahead to purchase the land,” said Wekesa.  During this time, Wekesa revealed the valuer increased the acreage from 7.8 to 10 acres without any reasonable justification and later inflated the price from Sh8 million to Sh24 million.  “This move led to a loss of public funds, meaning the government never got value for its money, we have gotten a green light from the Director of Public Prosecution to present them to court,” said Wekesa.