EACC accuses MP Aladwa, children of grabbing Sh65m Buruburu land

Makadara MP George Aladwa and his children are on the spot after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is claiming they allegedly grabbed public land in Buruburu estate valued at approximately Sh65 million and used it to secure a Sh22 million loan.

In a suit filed at Milimani Environment and Lands Court, the anti-graft agency claims Aladwa and his family irregularly acquired the prime property despite it having been reserved for public use, and is now seeking orders to recover the Buruburu parcel and have its registration in their names revoked.

Justice Judy Omange issued interim orders barring Aladwa, his children and associates from interfering with disputed land pending the hearing of a lawsuit filed by the EACC, which seeks to recover the public land purportedly acquired illegally through a company linked to MP Aladwa.

The land, located in Buruburu Phase 5, was initially set aside for public use but was first allocated to a private individual named Fatuma Mohamed, who later allegedly transferred the property to Julgem Communications Services Limited, a company owned by MP Aladwa and his three children.

According to EACC court papers, MP Aladwa, his children whose names are withheld for legal purposes, and their company Julgem Communications Services Limited, fraudulently acquired land parcels measuring 0.2134 hectares and 0.2000 hectares, respectively, in 2012.

The commission further claims that Aladwa acquired the land when he served as Nairobi Mayor between 2011 and 2013 and failed in his fiduciary duty to safeguard public land.

“Aladwa is the current Member of Parliament for Makadara Constituency. At the time of acquisition of Nairobi /Block 79/788 by Julgem Communications Services Limited, in 2012, Aladwa was the Mayor of Nairobi City as he held the said position between 2011 and 2013,” EACC investigator Rosemary Syokau stated in court documents.

According to court documents, the irregularities date back to 1995 when a company, Olerai Investments Ltd, applied for allocation of the land, but the Commissioner of Lands explicitly refused, noting that the parcel was an open space.

Despite this, a lease was later purportedly issued to the first defendant, Fatuma Mohamed, on October 25, 2010, without any approved Part Development Plan or letter of allotment.

The EACC contends that the identity of Fatuma Mohamed remains unclear and may have been a proxy for Julgem Communications and its directors, including the Aladwa family.

Evidence filed in court shows that Aladwa acquired the property from Fatuma on August 12, 2012, after she allegedly leased it to the company belonging to the MP for Sh1 million, and a certificate of lease was issued to Julgem Communications.

Following the official acquisition, the property was used to secure a Sh22.3 million loan from Bunge Sacco Society Limited.

“On March 19, 2024, a charge was registered against the certificate of lease for the suit property in favour of the Bunge Sacco Society Limited to secure a loan amount of Sh22,300,000,” the EACC told the court.

The commission accuses MP Aladwa and his children of flagrantly violating the law by acquiring land that was not legally available for sale.

 “The 2nd to 6th defendants acted in complete disregard of the law by acquiring land that was not available for alienation,” the EACC noted in its court filings.

“They failed to carry out the necessary checks and verifications, thereby putting public property at risk of unlawful transfer,” the commission added.

EACC further highlighted conflicts of interest and unjust enrichment, claiming that the Aladwa family benefited financially from the acquisition of the land.

“By acquiring this property, the defendants unjustly enriched themselves with proceeds that should have remained within the public domain,” the commission argued.
The commission maintains that all these transactions were conducted without proper authority and in violation of the law.

“The alienation of the suit land to the Defendants was irregular and contrary to the Government Lands Act by reason that the land had been reserved and/or alienated for public purposes as it was not available for further alienation," EACC told the judge. 

According to the anti-graft agency, the land, measuring 0.2000 hectares, was designated as open space under the subdivision scheme plan for Buruburu Phase 5.

Justice Omange, however, issued orders restraining the defendants, including MP Aladwa, his three children and their company Julgem Communications Services Limited from disposing of Nairobi Block 79/788. 

“An injunction is hereby issued restraining the Respondents from selling or transferring Nairobi Block 79/788 pending the hearing and determination of the application,” the court document reads.

The case will be mentioned on December 2, 2025, with MP Aladwa, his children and others ordered to file their response within 21 days.