The High Court has ordered the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to pay Sh3 Billion to a company owned by Deputy President William Ruto’s business associate.
Justice George Odunga ordered the Department of Defense (DoD), which handles the logistics for KDF, to pay Torino Entreprises - a real estate company - Sh1.53 Billion with accrued interest from 2011 when the firm first won its battle for compensation - taking the total sum owed to Sh3.01 Billion as of December 2016.
KDF will also cater for the legal costs of the suit that was filed over the disputed ownership of a 90-acre piece of land that the military appropriated 11 years ago and is now part of the Embakasi Army Barracks.
Torino moved to court to challenge what they called forceful occupation of their prime piece of land.
The first judgement on the matter was won by Torino after High Court Judge Jean Gacheche awarded the firm the Sh1.53 Billion together with 12 per cent interest from the date of judgment until when the case would be heard.
The aggrieved company went back to court in August last year to petition the High Court to force KDF to release the payment.
DoD responded by submitting that the payment was not made because of failure to include the amounts in the 2016/2017 budget.
Judge Odunga, however, ruled in favour of the real estate company.
Torino is owned by three businessmen including Ruto’s business partner Patrick Osero.
Osero has claimed ownership of the Weston Hotel where Ruto has also confirmed to be a shareholder.
