DPP Wants CS Matiang'i to Record Statement Over Ruaraka Land Scandal

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji now wants Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and the former Attorney General Githu Muigai to record statements on their role in the Ksh3.3 Billion Ruaraka land scandal.

According to reports by Citizen, the CS is expected to record a statement with the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday after the AG honoured a summon on Thursday.

Matiang'i had earlier recorded a statement on the controversial land deal where he denied any wrongdoing in the multi-million sale.

He reportedly told the investigators that he only responded to a letter from the National Land Commission chairman Muhammad Swazuri.

[caption caption="File image of CS Fred Matiang'i"][/caption]

According to the CS, the letter was forwarded to his office by his Principal Secretary seeking concurrences of the ministry in initiating the compensation process.

On his part, the AG 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, 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 was quoted by the Standard.

Appearing before Senate's Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, DPP Haji divulged that part of the millions lost in the Ruaraka Land scandal had been traced to Mauritius. 

"In the Ruaraka issue, some of the withdrawn money has been taken to Mauritius. Once cash has been withdrawn, it becomes very difficult to track it," Haji noted adding that Ksh250 million of the Ruaraka Land was once withdrawn within three days. 

[caption caption="DPP Noordin Haji"][/caption]

Also implicated in the scandal is National Land Commission (NLC) Chair Muhammad Swazuri whom members of Parliament want to be investigated and prosecuted for his role in the controversial deal.

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