Lands Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi. Photo: Daily NationIt is alleged that documents used to purchase the standard gauge railway and the millions of money budgeted for the project might not be genuine.
These claims were made on Tuesday evening when top officials in the Lands Ministry appeared to confirm that taxpayers could have paid around Sh1 billion to compensate for the land that was irregularly given to individuals.
Land Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi led the team for admissions and unfortunately, it ended up in a serious dramatic conclusion with considerations of a petition for the dismissal of Muhammad Swazuri, National Lands Commission Chairman.
"From where I sit, we dismiss you as the owner of LR number 15100 and the ministry has to explain how they obtained the deed file of the property," said George Oner Rangwe MP.
"The ministry has never proposed a development plan for that land. From our records, that land has always been set aside for a railway reserve. We think whatever is presented has not legally and technically changed the status of the land,' said Masinde.
"You can be tempted to think they are authentic when they are not," said Kaimenyi.
"Because of the so-called independence of the National Lands Commission, it is not easy to work with them including the files we're talking about and what is in them," he added.
Confusion and lack of coordination have taken charge between the National Lands Commission and the ministry on the compensation for the land purchased for the Standard Gauge Railway.