More than a dozen individuals awaiting compensation on Tuesday lamented that funds to the tune of billions of Shillings have been misappropriated by an organised syndicate.
Speaking in the presence of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, the complainants lamented that the State had already released the compensation money, valued at Ksh2.7 billion, for land, part of which was yet to reach them.
Their spokesperson laid the blame on a family conspiring with other State employees to swindle the beneficiaries.
He argued that whereas some of the funds have already been stolen, the syndicate is sitting on the remaining in hopes that the beneficiaries will forget. He claimed that the money was stored at a Nairobi CBD Bank.
"We have been harassed as if we are not Kenyans and all with one family. A young person born while we lived there is given Ksh50 million while elderly people like me get nothing," he complained.
"Also, there is more money, which was part of the money that was swindled, which is still held at a bank. The swindlers have kept the money pending waiting for us to forget so that they can swindle."
While pointing at plans to illegally hive off a parcel of land linked to Kenya Railways, the complainant lamented that the syndicate was planning to sell off the parcels and pocket the money.
He further argued that the proceeds would be spread out through proxies to clear the perpetrators' names.
"Also, another piece of land measuring 38 acres remains and it is not clear to whom it was allocated. We asked them to return to us since we are the owners but we do not know who bought the parcel. It was sold and the money was subdivided among the family," he added.
Sonko concurred with their complaints arguing that the State was still infiltrated by more corrupt individuals. He also hailed President William Ruto for overseeing a first round of firings.
"His Excellency, the President, was right to fire the Kenya Railways board members. However, more corrupt current civil servants need to be fired and some former officials punished," Sonko shared.
"Also, some corrupt lawyers who conspired with grabbers and fraudsters to swindle part of the Ksh2.7 billion compensation money released by the government through Kenya Railways must pay for their actions."
Land cartels have for years affected service delivery in the Lands Ministry.
