The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, obtained court orders to freeze multi-billion wealth of Thika Land Registrar Felix Mecha Nyakundi for a period of Six months.

EACC was given orders to freeze 17 high end vehicles and prime properties on 106 pieces of land spread across the country, belonging to Nyakundi. 

According to the Commission, Nyakundi’s multi-billion wealth was acquired through corruption and should be forfeited to the government.

Milimani High Court Judge Lady Justice Esther Maina also allowed EACC to hold and retain the sum of unexplained Ksh4,260,000 in cash seized from the suspect during a search operation undertaken by EACC in his homes and offices. 

In the Application filed on Friday March 8, under a Certificate of Urgency, EACC, through its Advocate Pius Nyoike, told the High Court that Nyakundi has accumulated massive wealth that is not commensurate with his known legitimate sources of income and as such the Commission reasonably suspects him of corruption and economic crimes. 

According to the documents filed in Court, EACC said that it was reasonably apprehensive that unless the preservation orders are granted, the 106 properties and 17 vehicles discovered through its preliminary investigations were at risk of being transferred, sold, charged  or otherwise wasted  thereby  jeopardizing their recovery.

In her ruling, the Judge said she was satisfied that EACC made a compelling case for grant of the preservation orders pending finalization of the ongoing investigations into allegations of embezzlement of public funds, abuse office and unexplained wealth.

“The Commission contends that based on its preliminary investigations, Nyakundi cannot practically have amassed such wealth through lawful and legitimate means and in the absence of any satisfactory explanation, his accumulated wealth  can only be proceeds of corruption hence liable to forfeiture to the Government of Kenya,” read part of EACC statement.

The orders by Justice Maina prohibit Felix Mecha Nyakundi, implicated family members and associates, whether by themselves or through their agents or servants from selling, transferring, disposing of, wasting, charging or in any other way dealing with the 106 properties and 17 motor vehicles for the next six months.