Two government officials were on Monday evening arrested after Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko discovered that they were part of a land grabbing syndicate in Nairobi’s Parklands estate.
The two government officials – a chief and deputy county commissioner – were apprehended by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers after Governor Sonko notified them of an alleged bribery scheme.
The Governor, in a Facebook post, disclosed that he planned the arrest with the anti-corruption officers after the rightful property owners, Mr Mohan Singh Dhanjal and Mr Satwant Singh Dhanjal, reported to him that the chief had been demanding bribes in exchange for protecting them against eviction.
"After going through their land documents, I found out that they were the genuine owners and I decided to take action.
"I advised them to report the matter to the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC), who provided officers to accompany them to meet the chief. Upon arrival, the chief demanded that the family gives him and the area D.O Ksh.30,000 for "protection."
"The EACC officers swiftly swung into action and arrested the chief, who is currently being held at Kilimani Police Station waiting to be presented in court," Sonko stated.
Sonko further reiterated his stand that the days of the cartels who have been tormenting and defrauding honest hardworking Kenyans, came to an end the day he assumed office.
His sentiments were echoed by Parklands Ward Representative Jayendra Malde, who stated that he would not sit and watch as his people pay bribes to keep their land.
The family narrated that on Thursday last week, the chief summoned them to his office and informed them that they would be evicted on Monday.
“On Saturday he wanted us to give him Sh100,000, which we negotiated down to Sh30,000,” one of the owners claimed.
