Activist sues Ruto over Weston hotel
Pressure was on Wednesday piled on Deputy President William Ruto to surrender the land in Nairobi on which his Weston Hotel was built after an activist sued him for allegedly grabbing it.
Mr Martin Muriithi Njeru told a court he had reason to believe that Mr Ruto illegally acquired the land from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
“Mr Ruto has publicly admitted that he owns Weston Hotel, which was built on public land. Despite being aware of the illegal acquisition of the land, Mr Ruto has ignored a public outcry concerning his illegal act,” he said.
Mr Njeru wants the court to order the Deputy President to step aside pending investigations into the alleged land grabbing, arguing that Mr Ruto occupies an influential position and is likely to interfere with investigations if he remains in office.
CITIZENS AFFECTED
He also wants Mr Ruto stopped from dealing in, alienating or transferring the Weston Hotel land until the dispute over its acquisition is solved.
“Several citizens have continuously been affected by the acts of Mr Ruto and he has refused to heed their calls despite being aware that he took the land illegally and amid protests from the KCAA,” swore Mr Njeru.
The land rights activist wants Mr Ruto ordered to make public all documents he used to acquire the land, and for the National Land Commission to cancel the title he has for it.
According to the activist, the DP has violated constitutional provisions on integrity and leadership and should be declared morally unfit to continue holding a public office.
“As a concerned citizen, I have reason to believe that Mr Ruto is not fit to hold public office for being associated with so many corrupt deals. His character does not befit a State officer and he has refused to consider how his acts are affecting the citizens of Kenya,” said Mr Njeru.
The application adds voice to calls by the Opposition alliance, Cord, to the government to repossess the title.
LAND GRABBED
Cord leader Raila Odinga last week said the four-star hotel should be demolished and the government should immediately prosecute individuals involved in grabbing the land.
Mr Ruto has defended the acquisition, maintaining that it was not public land and that it was legally sold to the company that runs Weston Hotel.
The DP also said the hotel was built in Lang’ata when Mr Odinga was both the Prime Minister and the local MP but he never raised any questions.
He said the property was not in the Ndung’u Report on grabbed public land or those whose titles were cancelled by then Lands minister James Orengo.
SOURCE: Daily Nation