Two Doctors in Kabarnet, Baringo County surrendered a land where their hospital stands to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
In a statement on Saturday, October 1, the state agency explained that the two doctors identified as Kibet Ruto and Charles Kurgat handed over Kerio Hospital in Kabarnet, Baringo County on Thursday, September 29.
They had bought the parcel in 2017 at a value of Ksh4.2 million when they discovered that it had been illegally snatched from the Government of Kenya's department of housing.
"Two Karbanet doctors have voluntarily surrendered to EACC public land worth Ksh5 million after they realized it had been grabbed from Government before it was sold to them.
"On September 29, 2022, they delivered the title deed to EACC Nakuru Regional Manager Ignatius Wekesa," read the EACC statement in part.
According to the anti-corruption commission, the land was illegally acquired in 2004 and sold to the doctors in 2017.
The value of the land estimated to be 0.185 ha has since risen to Ksh5 million as per 2022 valuation.
The commission lauded the two medics for their bravery and patriotic act noting that it was a rare occurrence in Kenya.
"This is a rare occurrence where persons who have knowingly or unknowingly acquired public property decide to voluntarily surrender the same back to the State for public benefit," the Commission added.
EACC also challenged other Kenyans who hold illegal parcels of land to surrender it to the state before the law catches up with them.
The Commission, therefore, launched the process of prosecuting the individuals who acquired the land illegally as well as the land officials who aided the process.
"Other persons in possession of stolen public property are invited to engage EACC for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) pursuant to the applicable law.
"Meanwhile, land officials who facilitated the Karbanet land grabbing will be subjected to criminal prosecution," EACC concluded.
