Tucked in the heart of the Trans-Mara sub-county, the once palatial family home for former Vice President Joseph Murumbi is a reclusive mansion for President William Ruto.
Touted to be the Head of State's retirement home, President Ruto reportedly purchased the 900-tract Intona Ranch in Narok County in 2015.
A house befitting an influential figure in the country, the ranch hosts a 35-roomed mansion that borders the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
Ruto, who served as the Deputy President then, paid off a loan owed to the Agriculture Finance Corporation by the late Murumbi.
Hailed by many as a tourist attraction, the President transformed what was once a dilapidated state of the ranch into an opulent stature, a past report by Nation indicated.
In addition, he has stocked hundreds of beef cattle on the ranch and has employed personnel to supervise the farm.
Origins of the mansion
The late Murumbi reportedly acquired the land through his mother's land rights as a Maasai. At the time, Murumbi had been sent to India by his parents to study.
After spending 16 years in India, Murumbi was reportedly deceived by false reports of his mother's demise, which prompted him to return to the country and continue the family business.
They sold their family home in Muthaiga, Nairobi, close to the Central Business District (CBD), as Murumbi sought to live away from the city.
He relocated to Trans-Mara, where the Maasai reportedly gifted him the land as recognition for his service to the country.
Afterwards, Murumbi built the 35-roomed mansion meant to be an exclusive getaway for him and his family. Close friends with Murumbi at the time praised the former politician for his generosity and grand gesture, indicating that he would slaughter a goat and invite his friends who had an option of taking a flight and landing on an airstrip situated at the ranch.
Ruto Ranch
In 2019, the president was accused by the Trusted Society of Human Rights and wrote to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) seeking to have Ruto investigated for the property acquisition.
It was revealed that the late Murumbi had defaulted on a Ksh8.9 million loan from the AFC- to which Ruto paid the debt in full.
At the time, the mansion was dilapidated as no one had occupied the house since Murumbi and his wife died. This allowed unkempt bushes and rundown nature to take over the expansive state.
Ruto's ranch reportedly neighbours former President Uhuru Kenyatta's 1,000-acre ranch in Oloolmongi, Lolgorian Ward, Narok County.
