By Andrew Kariuki
Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has suffered a legal setback after the High Court in Nairobi issued preservation orders barring any dealings with a disputed parcel of land linked to him in the Parklands area.
Justice Theresa Murigi certified as urgent an application filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and ordered that L.R No. 209/12673, now registered as L.R No. 209/21526, be preserved for six months pending investigations and determination of the case.
The court restrained the Governor, his agents, servants or any other person from entering, constructing on, developing, selling, transferring, charging, wasting or otherwise dealing with the property during the preservation period.
The matter is scheduled for an inter partes hearing on March 5, 2026.
In the same ruling delivered on February 2, 2026, Justice Murigi also issued similar preservation orders over three additional parcels, L.R No. 209/12670, 209/12671 and 209/12672, restraining the respective respondents from interfering with those properties for six months pursuant to Section 56(3) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
According to court filings, the EACC is investigating the alleged unlawful alienation of public land in Parklands that was originally reserved for public utility purposes adjacent to North Highridge Primary School
The commission states that the land had been set aside for a social hall and formed part of public land linked to the school.
Investigations indicate that in July 1995, letters of allotment were allegedly issued to private individuals based on an unapproved and unregistered Part Development Plan.
The EACC further alleges that the then Commissioner of Lands unlawfully and corruptly facilitated the issuance of grants over the parcels, despite the land being reserved for public use and without presidential authority as required under the repealed Government Lands Act.
Court documents show that L.R No. 209/12673 changed hands several times before being resurveyed in 2020 and registered as L.R No. 209/21526.
The property was allegedly transferred to Mohamed Adan Khalif on February 5, 2021.
The commission maintains that investigations have not revealed any lawful process through which the land was converted from public utility to private residential use.
EACC argues that the preservation orders are necessary to protect the parcels from further transactions pending completion of investigations and possible recovery proceedings.
