Court blocks sale and development of Ruiru land under investigation

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has secured temporary court orders preventing any sale or development on a nine-acre parcel of land in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

The commission alleges that the land was irregularly converted from public educational use to private residential plots.

In a suit filed at the Environment and Land Court in Thika, EACC has named a private company and two people as respondents.

The commission claims the land, originally set aside for the construction of a public secondary school, was acquired unlawfully.

According to court documents, the parcel formed part of a residential scheme developed by the firm and was reserved for a school as a condition for the scheme’s approval.

EACC states that in 2005, the land was sold to the individuals before the school had been constructed, which it says was contrary to lease terms that required development within 24 months.

EACC further argues that the sale and subsequent changes to the land’s use breached planning and land administration laws, noting that the lease conditions provided for automatic reversion of the land to the government if the school was not constructed.

“This sale was in breach of the lease terms, which stipulated that failure to develop the school or change the land use would result in automatic reversion of the land to the government,” the commission says.

In 2015, the new owners reportedly obtained a change of user from educational to residential from the then Kiambu County Director of Physical Planning.

The land was subsequently subdivided into 37 residential plots, and new leases were issued.

EACC describes these steps as “irregular, unlawful and fraudulent” and is seeking to have the property recovered for public use.

On October 29, 2025, Lady Justice Jane Onyango issued a temporary injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, or representatives from selling, mortgaging, subdividing, developing, or otherwise dealing with the land pending the hearing of the case.

“It is hereby ordered, that in the interim, a temporary injunction is issued restraining the Respondents by themselves, their agents, servants or anybody acting on their behalf from laying claim, selling, mortgaging, sub-dividing, developing or in any manner whatsoever dealing with the land parcels known as RUIRU/KIU BLOCK 3 and its resultant titles,” the court order reads.

The commission valued the property at approximately Sh250 million as of 2019 and maintains that it should revert to public ownership for the intended educational purpose.

The matter is scheduled to be heard inter partes on November 20, 2025.

The respondents have a right to be heard, and the court has not made any final determination on the allegations.