A shocking scandal has emerged involving the alleged embezzlement of Sh2.7 billion intended for landowners displaced by the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project in Embakasi South, with Principal Secretary Nixon Korir and several law firms at the center of accusations, according to Nation Africa and a petition submitted to investigative authorities.
The funds, released on December 16, 2023, were meant to compensate families from the Dupoto/Dafur Welfare Settlement Scheme whose land was acquired for the SGR. Instead, most received as little as Sh250,000 each, while millions were allegedly siphoned off through fake agreements and law firm proxies.
PS Nixon Korir, the Lands and Physical Planning Principal Secretary, is accused of orchestrating the scheme by appointing Johnson & Partners LLP to manage the compensation funds. A petition filed on March 10, 2025, alleges that Korir diverted over Sh300 million through proxies and pressured the community to abandon their court case, ELC Petition 604 of 2024, which sought fair compensation. Narok South MP Sylvester Ntutu is implicated for allegedly receiving Sh250 million, and Johnson Osoi of Johnson & Partners LLP is accused of paying Sh170 million to his wife or mistress.
Several law firms are also named in the scandal, with Nick Ndenda & Associates reportedly pocketing over Sh712 million. Other firms, including Moinket & Co. Advocates, Kemosi Mogaka & Co., Cheboi Ouma & Co., and Kipkenda & Co., are accused of inflating legal fees and withdrawing large sums without delivering services to the landowners.
The human toll is devastating. In December 2023, families were violently evicted by armed police and bulldozers without proper notice, leaving them homeless. Their land titles remain unlisted on the Aridi Sasa platform, raising questions about the acquisition’s legality. “We were promised fair compensation, but we’ve been left with nothing,” said a displaced resident during a recent protest.
As of April 16, 2025, no updates have been provided by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), or Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), despite the petition being lodged over a month ago. The lack of progress has sparked frustration, with fears that the case could be swept under the rug, as seen in past land fraud cases in Kenya.
The National Assembly Committee on Lands, chaired by Joash Nyamoko, is probing the irregular acquisition of 74 acres for the SGR Nairobi terminus and the Sh2.7 billion payout. The committee has ordered field visits and a review of Land Registry records to ensure fair compensation, but affected families remain skeptical.
“This scandal exposes a broken system where greed trumps justice,” said a community leader. “We demand accountability and transparency to protect ordinary Kenyans.”
The Dupoto/Dafur community continues to hold peaceful protests, appealing for public support and urging authorities to act swiftly. As investigations unfold, the case could reveal the extent of high-level corruption and the misuse of state power against vulnerable citizens.
There's no story that cannot be told. We cover the stories that others don't want to be told, we bring you all the news you need. If you have tips, exposes or any story you need to be told bluntly and all queries write to us [email protected] also find us on Telegram
