Parliament uncovers fresh irregularities in decades-old Ksh63M NSSF land deal

A parliamentary committee in Kenya has found new irregularities in a 1968 land deal involving the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Lands, led by MP Joash Nyamoko, has called for a deeper investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) into the acquisition of a 1.5-acre plot of land on Lenana Road in Nairobi.

The property, originally belonging to Rosita Chettyar, was sold to Opus Investment Limited and subsequently transferred to NSSF for Ksh63 million, despite being valued at Ksh26.25 million at the time. The committee questioned the speed of the transaction, which was completed in three to four days despite manual land records, and the unexplained death of a key suspect, Abdul Shakoor Sheikh, who reportedly died in Dubai just one month after leaving Kenya in April 2010.

The Law Society of Kenya revealed that Johar and Company Advocates, involved in the original transaction, has no record of existence. The committee also expressed concern over alleged intimidation of landowners and failures by institutions to protect property rights. They have now requested the DCI provide the original investigation reports and verified records regarding Sheikh's death to determine if those involved should face further legal action.