Former PS Wilfred Kimalat in trouble as EACC seeks to recover public land he allegedly stole while in office

Former Permanent Secretary for Provincial Administration and National Security, Wilfred Kitur Kimalat, is at the centre of a fresh legal battle after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) moved to recover a prime piece of public land in Eldoret, valued at Sh200 million, which he is accused of acquiring illegally.

Kimalat allegedly acquired the land originally reserved for government housing in 1994 after being issued with an allotment letter that was accompanied by an unapproved part development plan.

The late former provincial commissioner Ishmael Chelang'a was in the same manner also allotted Block 7/248 in 1995 and issued a lease by the then Commissioner of Lands in unclear circumstances.

The two pieces of land measuring a total of 3.44 acres are located at the heart of the Eldoret central business district.

In a suit filed at the Eldoret's Environment and Lands Court, the EACC says the pieces of land are co-owned by the former state officer and and Endo Holdings Limited, a company associated with the late Chelang'a who at the time of acquiring the property was serving in senior public roles, including that of Provincial Commissioner for Rift Valley Province.

Public land

EACC contends that the land where two government houses still stand, house numbers ELD/HOU/MG/42 and ELD/HOU/MG/43 respectively, was not available for allocation as the same had been reserved and in use for public purposes.

This is after a probe by the commission established that the two houses are still under the management of the State Department of Housing and Urban Development and, therefore, remain public property.

In its suit, the commission is seeking court declarations that the leases issued by the then Commissioner of Lands—along with all subsequent transfers—are null and void. It is also asking for the cancellation of all related land registrations, a permanent injunction to stop any further dealings with the property, and an order to have the land registered in trust for the State Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Mr Wilson Gacanja, the then Commissioner of Lands, has been named in the suit for knowingly using his position to influence the alienation of the suit properties reserved for public interest.

The case ranks amongst many that the commission is handling in its efforts to recover stolen public property across the country.

Justice E.M. Washe of the Environment and Land Court in Eldoret has certified an injunction application filed by the commission as urgent and scheduled its hearing for July 23, 2025.

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