The state has halted the transaction of Ksh 1 billion that had been set aside for the expansion of Deputy President William Ruto’s office.
National Land Commission (NLC) halted the payment of Ksh 1 billion for a piece of land meant for the expansion.
The decision was made after NLC received a notice from a former MP, through the Attorney General’s office, indicating that the land was irregularly transferred from City Hall to one Rahab Wanjiru Evans.
Treasury had set aside Ksh 500 million in the budget for the year ended June for the purchase of the 0.7-acre plot adjacent to Harambee House Annex office.
A balance of Ksh 500 million was to be allocated in the current financial year.
NLC acting chairperson Abigael Mbagaya revealed that they cannot pay for the plot until the complaint had been reviewed and solved.
“We will review whether the transfer from City Hall was irregular. But remember local authorities had the right to allocate their land to private investors,” Mbagaya told Business Daily.
Members of Parliament had earlier questioned the price of the property citing that it had no buildings on it.
Security concerns led to the land being gazetted by the land commission in June 2015 with the aim to establish the owner.
Wanjiru was a former freedom fighter and a member of the Nyakinyua Group, famous for entertaining the late president Jomo Kenyatta.
She also worked as a Nakuru District KANU Women Wing Leader during former President Daniel Moi’s time in the 1980s.
