The Government through the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination is set to pay former East African Court of Justice Judge Benna Wamukoya Lutta Sh883 Million as compensation for the grabbing of his land in Trans Nzoia County over 30 years ago.
Appearing before the Administration and National Security Committee of Parliament, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery told the legislators that the government intended to pay the former appellate judge in instalments.
“We requested Sh1 Billion to clear legal claims arising from land compensation but we have been allocated Sh68 Million which will go directly to Justice Lutta whom the government owes about Sh900 Million,” Nkaissery stated.
The former judge sued the government for evicting him from his 1,756-acre farm in 1983 and demanded more than Sh1 Billion in damages and interest accrued.
Justice Isaac Lenaola ruled in his favour and ordered that the government pays Justice Lutta Sh883 Million as his rights to property were breached when government agents and members of the Sabaot community took away his land.
The matter arose as the parliamentary committee was scrutinising the second mini-budget allocation to the Interior Ministry after they made an additional allocation of Sh2.5 Billion.
The CS explained that the additional budget was meant for election-related security expenses and recruitment of additional police officers.
A police camp, government offices, and two police offices have since been built on the property.
