How “creative” Waititu is allegedly using spurious Kikuyu elders as a pretext to grab three acres of land in Kiambu

Is Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu working smart to own more pieces of land in Kiambu? Or is he working out to frustrate development in the region? Well, The management of Tatu City in Ruiru has accused the Kiambu County Government of frustrating its development.

They said last Friday that Governor Ferdinand Waititu has instructed the county planning department not to approve any building plans associated with Tatu City.

“We consider this an act of blackmail after we declined to offer any free land to the governor and his cronies,” Tatu City said.

Tatu City managers claimed that Waititu is using spurious Kikuyu elders as a pretext to grab three acres of land.

Tatu City’s head Nick Langford addresses journalists in Ruiru/JOHN KAMAU

According to the Star, some Kiama Kia Ma elders wanted to perform a cultural ceremony under a Mugumo fig tree on the Tatu City land on Saturday  but were denied access by security officers.

“Tatu City will stand to defend its legitimate ownership of its investment. Governor Waititu’s occupation of a public office does not entitle him to deprive any person or organisation of legitimate property. We urge him to keep off Tatu City,” Friday’s statement declared.

“The governor called me after we thwarted the ceremony that was to be held on our land and told me that that piece of land belongs to ‘us’ (him and the elders). He also told me that we are just colonialists invading their land,” said Chris Baron, Head of Corporate Affairs for Rendeavour, the developers of Tatu City.

“We are bonafide investors and we are trying to deliver a project that will benefit many Kenyans. It should not be undermined by people who have selfish interests,” he said on Saturday.

Baron said the three acres targeted by Waititu, including the Mugumo tree, will be developed into a park open to all members of the public. He said elders would also be able to hold traditional ceremonies there.

An official at the Kiambu planning department recently showed Tatu City a memo from Waititu directing them not to approve their plans.

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