MOMBASA, KENYA – A prime property in Mombasa's Buxton area, valued at Sh500 million and recovered from private developers, is now the foundation for a significant affordable housing project, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) confirmed on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. The 4.8-acre Hobley Estate has been demolished to pave the way for the construction of 720 housing units, directly channeling the proceeds of anti-corruption efforts into public service.

During a site inspection in Mombasa, EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud stated that the development underscores the agency's strategy of ensuring recovered assets benefit ordinary citizens. "The benefits of recovering these kinds of assets move down to the ordinary mwananchi because the houses built here will not only benefit one person but many families," Mohamud said. This initiative is part of a larger, aggressive asset recovery campaign in the coastal region that has reclaimed assets worth Sh1.4 billion over the last three years.

A Landmark Recovery in the Fight Against Land Grabbing

The recovery of Hobley Estate is a culmination of a legal battle initiated by the EACC to reclaim public land that had been illegally acquired. Court records from July 2022 show that the Mombasa Environment and Land Court nullified fraudulent title deeds for the estate, which consisted of 56 government housing units occupied by civil servants. Justice Sila Munyao ruled that the allocation was secretive, an abuse of office by the then commissioner of lands, and amounted to the theft of public property. The property was then reverted to the government, setting the stage for its current redevelopment.

The EACC's focus on asset recovery is a core pillar of its 2023–2028 strategic plan. Mohamud revealed that the commission is actively pursuing assets nationwide valued at approximately Ksh10.3 billion. In the past year alone, the EACC has filed over 80 recovery suits targeting assets worth around Sh4.8 billion. This robust approach serves as a deterrent, Mohamud noted, by stripping away the financial incentives for corruptly acquiring public property.

Broader Impact on Mombasa and Public Institutions

The Hobley Estate project is one of several successful recoveries in Mombasa that are being repurposed for public use. During his tour, the EACC CEO inspected other reclaimed properties, including:

• A road reserve on Links Road in Nyali, valued at KSh30 million.
• Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) land at Moi International Airport, valued at Sh104 million.
• Kenya Railways land in the Kizingo area, valued at KSh50 million.
• Two parcels belonging to the Mombasa County Government in Majengo, valued at a combined KSh26.5 million.

These recovered assets are being handed over to various government bodies for their intended public purposes. Beneficiary institutions include the KAA, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC), and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

The EACC has encouraged individuals holding illegally acquired public land to pursue voluntary surrender through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to avoid lengthy court battles. "We welcome those willing to engage us through ADR. These properties must be restored for their intended public use," Mohamud stated.

Contribution to Kenya's Affordable Housing Agenda

The transformation of the Hobley Estate directly supports the national government's ambitious Affordable Housing Programme, a key pillar of its development agenda. The project in Buxton is a public-private partnership, a model being used to address Kenya's significant housing deficit. The broader Buxton area is already home to the Buxton Point project, another major affordable housing development delivered in partnership with the County Government of Mombasa. That project, which includes amenities like swimming pools, community centres, and green spaces, serves as a blueprint for urban redevelopment in the county.

By reclaiming grabbed land and dedicating it to such projects, the EACC is not only fighting corruption but also actively facilitating the expansion of affordable housing stock for Kenyans. This tangible outcome provides a clear answer to the question of what happens to recovered assets, demonstrating a direct link between anti-graft enforcement and improved public welfare. The commission has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising the recovery of land meant for essential services to ensure all citizens benefit from national resources.