Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has defended his involvement in the Ksh3.2 Billion Ruaraka Land pay-out.
In a statement that the CS recorded with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), he reportedly told the investigators that he only responded to a letter from the National Land Commission chairman Muhammad Swazuri.
According to Matiang'i, the letter was forwarded to his office by his principal secretary seeking concurrences of the ministry in initiating the compensation process.
[caption caption="File image of Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i"]
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The EACC spokesman Yasin Amaro confirmed that officers from Integrity Center had met the CS in his office.
On Monday, EACC summoned former Attorney General Githu Muigai over the controversial land deal.
In a letter addressed to the commission, Prof Muigai stated that his role in the acquisition of the land was the provision of legal advice.
Additionally, he told the investigators what advice was sought and by whom and that he could not determine decisions made by independent entities.
"They (EACC) wrote to me asking to explain where the request for a legal opinion came from. I have prepared a very extensive statement reproducing what the current AG (Kihara Kariuki) told Parliament and forwarded to them. The documents speak for themselves and I don't need to appear before them," The former AG told the Standard.
Also summoned are Swazuri and Vice Chairperson Abigail Mukolwe who have already appeared at the EACC for questioning.
Earlier last week, Lands Cabinet Secretary Farida Karoney blamed the Interior CS and the NLC chairman for the improper acquisition of the piece of land.
Karoney admitted that the government officials did not follow due process when Ksh1.5Billion was paid to Huelands and Afrison Export company for the parcel where Ruaraka High and Drive Inn Primary Schools are built.
[caption caption="File image of Lands CS Farida Karoney"]
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