The National Lands Commission has said that Deputy President William Ruto must pay for the Weston Hotel land at current market value as he pursues the seller.
Outgoing NLC vice chair Abigael Mbagaya said this will enable the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) buy land of similar size and value.
” If he wants, he can go after the people who sold it to him…that’s what we are doing…you return it because it’s you we have caught on the ground then you chase whoever else who sold it to you to recover your money,” Mbagaya said.
According toMbagaya, NLC has directed that a valuation be carried out on the land where the controversial hotel sits and a report will be shared with the public.
Mbagaya further denied claims that there was any political influence in the decision on how Weston Hotel should compensate KCAA.
“How can there be political influence when you are telling somebody to pay restitution to the people of Kenya?,” she posed.
This comes a week after DP Ruto acknowledged that the Weston Hotel land was illegally acquired.
Speaking on BBC’s Hard Talk show hosted by Stephen Sackur, the Deputy President said he “innocently” bought the land from its original owners.
Dr. Ruto however said that he is doing everything possible to ensure that the illegalities are corrected.