The Anchor

By Lilian Kakuvi

The Department of Lands and Physical Planning in Machakos County is once again under the spotlight, with fresh allegations of deep-rooted corruption, extortion of staff, and abuse of transfers for personal gain.

According to insiders, a racket is thriving in which county staff are forced to pay kickbacks to retain lucrative postings or secure clearance to handle approvals. Those who resist are punished with abrupt transfers, often to remote sub-counties, while compliant officers are rewarded with favourable stations.

The scheme, staff allege, is driven by two top officials—Acting Chief Officer Abdilahi Guliye and his superior, the recently appointed Lands Minister Annastacia Munyaka, though both vehemently denied the claims while separately speaking to The Anchor

Both are accused of presiding over a system where “money first, work later” has become the rule. “The new minister requires a deep induction into the job. She keeps asking everyone about money, and Guliye is in the same trajectory. Where is the money?” One official fighting a second transfer in six months said in describing the situation.

The rot is visible in everyday operations. Rogue officers without technical training are reportedly conducting building inspections, approving development applications, and collecting payments in cash.

Fake receipts are allegedly being issued, while projects are undercharged or approved without drawings. A culture of informal agreements—where money is handed over weekly to seniors—has taken hold.

Sources identify one Charles Mweu who, without official sanction has emerged as the Chief Collector of county revenue in both Kangundo and Matungulu sub counties with powers to influence reversal of disciplinary transfer of one Elizabeth Mutisya.

“This came with an assurance that Kes 100,000 would be delivered in cash every week as ‘thank you’ fee,” said a revenue clerk watching the unfolding drama.

The result is a revolving-door circus of transfers. In the latest round ordered by Acting CO Guliye on 25th August, several Deputy Directors were shuffled between sub-counties. Staff whisper that the shuffle had less to do with efficiency and more to do with who delivers weekly “returns.” Ironically, some of those moved had only recently been transferred under Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s orders after being implicated in graft scandals.

When contacted, both Mrs Munyaka and Mr

Guliye denied the allegations and said staff in the department were working under pressure to deliver on their work targets.

They also rubbished allegations that they had set weeky bribery targets to secure lucrative postings.
Yet sources say the purge of over 40 town planners earlier this year, meant to dismantle cartels allegedly entrenched during the tenure of former minister Nathaniel Nganga, appears only to have re-engineered the game. “Staff now line up at the offices of their bosses, pleading to be posted back to “juicy” stations.

Meanwhile, the department itself is haunted by a trial under the Departmental Human Resource Advisory Committee where notorious planner Evans Lumumba is fighting to salvage his career.

For many county staff, the picture is clear: graft in the Lands docket has become institutionalized. Transfers, approvals, and even the basic duties of officers are no longer guided by law but by cash. The promise of reform has instead birthed another cartel, with ordinary residents paying the price through delayed services, inflated costs, and dubious.

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