The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered a 2.7-acre public school playground in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, after a court declared its registration in the name of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Ruguthi Women’s Guild illegal and fraudulent.
In a judgment delivered on October 5, 2026, the Environment and Land Court in Thika ruled that Title No. KARAI/KARAI/350 was public land reserved as a playground for Kanyiha, Lusigetti and Njumbi primary schools.
The court declared the allocation and registration of the property in the Guild’s name illegal, null and void, affirming that the land is held in trust for the three public schools.
The case was filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), with EACC participating as an interested party. The commission presented evidence demonstrating that the land had been reserved for public use before it was irregularly allocated.
According to EACC, investigations established that the former County Council of Kiambu set aside the land in 1957 for use as a school playing field.
The investigations further revealed that there was no letter of offer or acceptance, evidence of payment of rent or rates, or proof that the Women’s Guild had paid any consideration to the former county council for the property.
The court’s decision safeguards a vital public facility used by more than 1,300 pupils, ensuring that the playground remains available for learning, sports and recreation for current and future generations.
EACC said it remained committed to protecting public property and ensuring that public resources were preserved for the benefit of all Kenyans.
The commission’s spokesperson, Stephen Karuga, said the recovery underscored the importance of safeguarding public land from irregular allocation and ensuring that facilities designated for public institutions remained available to their intended beneficiaries.
