A senior officer at the Ministry of Lands handed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi a lifeline in the case regarding the Ksh1.5 billion piece of land situated near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
According to Nyandoro David Nyambaso, the title deed held by Wamunyoro Investment Limited- a company associated with the DP- was legitimate.
The lands officer, however, disputed the title deed held by a different company, which he termed irregular. He added that Gachagua's company was already in existence and the title deed was still legally binding at the time.
“Under these circumstances, the title deed held by the current company ought to be cancelled unless the court declares otherwise." the officer stated.
According to Nyambaso, the Lands Ministry had written to the Chief Lands Registrar seeking verification of the ownership of the disputed piece of land.
He noted that they received a response from the Registrar's office confirming that Wamunyoro Investment Limited was the legitimate owner of the land.
In addition, the senior officer alleged that the title deed held by a different company was a copy of the original document annexed to Gachagua's company.
According to past court documents, Gachagua through his lawyer, Philip Nyachoti, stated that the records held at the Lands office were allegedly tampered with and used as a means of political witch hunt.
The matter was dragged to court after a former director of physical planning at the Land Ministry in the 1980s filed a suit seeking to have Gachagua's title deed revoked.
The former director claimed that he was allocated the parcel in 1994 by former President Daniel Arap Moi.
He also alleged that he paid Ksh50,000 as an allotment fee and was allocated the piece of land alongside other individuals including Taita Towett and Francis Maritim.
He claimed that during the time he fell ill and sought treatment in the UK, Gachagua allegedly conspired to acquire the piece of land.
