Why NLC’s decision in Weston Hotel land saga might put Ruto on spot again

The National Land Commission made a conclusion that Deputy President William Ruto’s Weston Hotel was on  a public land, ruling that the parcel will however not be marked for demolition. This might raise various questions. If on public land, then how did Ruto acquire it? Well, NLC’s conclusion that the parcel is public land is likely to put Ruto on the spot following years of denial and statements that he acquired the property legally.

In 2013, the High Court ordered Ruto to surrender a 100-acre farm in the Rift Valley and pay Sh5 million as compensation to the rightful owner, Adrian Muteshi.

During the Weston probe, Ruto’s lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi told NLC commissioners that the defunct Directorate of Civil Aviation had been given alternative land.

However, he could not pinpoint the location of the two alternative parcels or give their reference numbers.

Abdullahi said the DP acquired the land in 2007 for Sh10 million from Priority Management Ltd and Monene Investments Limited

Before the NLC took over investigations on the Weston Hotel land, President Uhuru Kenyatta had ordered relentless demolition of structures built either on road reserves or riparian land.

Among the towering structures that were brought down were the Taj Mall, Ukay Centre and South End Mall.

Land sector players blamed the NLC for applying double standards in its policy directions.

“There are a lot of reservations about the operations of the National Land Commission and how commissioners have been handling matters before them,” complained Odenda Lumumba, chairman of the Kenya Land Alliance.

“If you are saying you are recovering public land regardless of the development on it, this land would not be an exception.”

Yesterday, Wayong’o said Constitution Article 40(6) on the right to property does not extend to property found to have been unlawfully acquired.

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