Land Linked to Ruto Repossessed by Govt

Deputy President William Ruto addressing a gathering, February 17, 2020.
Deputy President William Ruto addressing a gathering, February 17, 2020.
DPPS

On Wednesday, April 22, the government moved to repossess land in Ruai that is allegedly linked to Deputy President William Ruto and former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, according to sources who spoke to NTV.

According to the report, the 2,226 acres of land is part of the 4,440 acres of the Dandora Estate Waste Sewerage Treatment Plant, located in Ruai, that was encroached by private developers.

A joint statement on Tuesday, April 22, by the Ministry of Water and the Ministry of Lands, named the affected parcels as LR 28706, measuring 1,605 acres, which is owned by Renton Company Limited and  LR 28707, measuring 999 acres.

Deputy President William Ruto addresses the media outside his Karen, Nairobi home on Thursday, April 9, 2020
Deputy President William Ruto addresses the media outside his Karen, Nairobi home on Thursday, April 9, 2020
File

Renton, which was registered in 1995 is said to have been associated with the late William ole Ntimama.

A report by People Daily on Thursday alleged that the firm is associated with DP Ruto, the son of an influential former parastatal official, and a prominent city lawyer from the Rift Valley. 

Further, the second parcel of land is registered under Offshore Trading Company Limited, which is allegedly owned by former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo.

Further, the report claimed that Renton's lawyer senior counsel Tom Ojienda rushed to court to stop the takeover of the land.

Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary, Joseph Irungu, on Wednesday, April 22, stated that he had the mother titles to the piece of land, adding that anyone claiming ownership of the land, would have to prove it.

"This is the most suitable site for sewerage management in the entire city. It is naturally the lowest city and this is the only place that sewerage can flow through gravity," he stated.

"You cannot build a house on a toilet. It is terribly bad manners. You cannot put up a house here," he added.

Below is a video courtesy of NTV;

{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/vRq6PyXn4sk.jpg?itok=EDtvxIYA","video_url":"","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}

The government's move to repossess the land is among the first steps taken to restore the management of sewage plants.

"In Nairobi, land that was meant for development of sanitation facilities, treatment plants and storage facilities has been grabbed by private developers.

"62% of the original land was set aside for infrastructure development in Ruai, Kariobangi, Karura, Karen, Kabete and Kahawa West. This was meant for water treatment plants, sewerage systems, water storage tanks and for future expansion.," read the statement in part.