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Lawmakers have commenced investigations into how seven companies and individuals were awarded Sh18.79 billion as court awards that are yet to be settled by the Ministry of Lands.

The move came after Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir tabled a document showing that out of the Sh19.7 billion awarded by the courts, the highest chunk went to the seven companies while the remaining Sh950 million was left to be shared among the 18 companies.

The seven claims were made between 2013 and 2021 with the beneficiaries being Orbit Chemical who received the highest award of Sh6 billion, followed by RahimKhan Afzalkhan who was awarded Sh5.8 billion, Pius Kibet Tott and another Sh4.5billion and Arnagherry Limited Sh1billion.

Others are Mike Maina Kamau Sh711.6 million, Thomas Mbugua and another Sh421million and Small Wonder Limited Sh326.5 million.

The MPs who sit in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) led by the chairperson Nominated MP John Mbadi told Korir to within 21 working days provide details showing how the awards were issued, what occasioned the move and the strategies the ministry had out in place to settle the claims.

Auditor to scrutinise

Mbadi also told the committee’s secretariat and the officers from the Auditor General to scrutinise the data that will be shared by the PS and determine whether the committee should summon PS to shed light on the matter.

He said: “There are some seven or so companies that are taking a huge chunk of the claims. We want details of the seven, tell us what the awards were for, what occasioned this huge payment.”
And added: “On these legal claims we need to know how the process was before the award was given. I see a case where the legal claims are being used fraudulently to swindle Kenyans their hard earned money.. Legal claims have been used in government as a way of stealing money from Kenyans.”

Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo sought to know the factors that led to the awards noting that there is always in collusion between interested parties and legal officers so that they are not defended adequately to allow them win such cases. He also sought to know why the ministry at the expense of others awarded as late as 2005 recently had settled some awards given.