The High Court has ordered the forfeiture of Sh426.85 million in assets linked to former Kilifi land registrar Felix Mecha Nyakundi.
The High Court has ordered former land registrar Felix Mecha Nyakundi and his associates to forfeit millions of shillings in assets linked to an unexplained wealth case.
The order covers money, properties and three vehicles associated with Nyakundi, his wife Stellah Nyaboke Otwori and linked companies.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) brought the recovery case under Section 55 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
EACC said its investigations found a gap between Nyakundi’s known legitimate income and the wealth accumulated by him and his associates.
Millions in Cash and Property
The court order includes about Sh233.6 million held in bank and mobile-money accounts, according to recent court reporting.
It also covers several properties and three high-end vehicles.
The properties include Bantu Hotel, apartments and parcels of land linked to the defendants.
The vehicles include a Land Cruiser Prado, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Hilux.
EACC had earlier secured preservation orders covering multiple properties, bank accounts, M-Pesa accounts and Sh4.26 million in cash recovered during a search.
EACC Investigated Wealth Accumulated Over Years
The commission investigated Nyakundi’s wealth accumulated while he worked in the Ministry of Lands.
EACC previously told the court that Nyakundi had accumulated substantial assets that did not match his known legitimate income.
The commission said it examined bank transactions, M-Pesa records, properties, vehicles and cash recovered during searches.
The case focused on assets acquired over several years while Nyakundi served as a public official.
Court Orders Recovery
The recovery proceedings followed EACC’s efforts to establish whether the wealth had a legitimate source.
Under Kenya’s unexplained-wealth law, EACC can seek forfeiture where a person fails to satisfactorily explain assets considered disproportionate to known legitimate income.
The latest court decision allows the government to recover assets covered by the forfeiture orders.
EACC has described asset recovery as a key tool for preventing individuals from benefiting from suspected proceeds of corruption and unethical conduct.
The case follows earlier court orders that preserved Nyakundi’s properties, vehicles and financial accounts pending determination of the recovery proceedings.
