Deputy President William Ruto’s Weston Hotel will pay Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) for illegally acquiring its land but some Kenyans want it demolished and the land returned to the government.
On her last day as the vice-chairperson of the National Lad Commission (NLC), Ms Abigael Mbagaya said that as per NLC’s ruling on the matter, Weston Hotel’s owner will have to pay restitution “to the people of Kenya” at the current market value of the property.
“(This will) enable Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to buy land of a similar size and value in the same neighbourhood,” Ms Mbagaya said at a morning show on Citizen TV Tuesday.
Ms Mbagaya says it will be futile for NLC to start tracking down initial owners of disputed properties.
“Weston must pay restitution. If he (Dr Ruto) wants, he can go after the people who sold it to him. That’s what we are doing,” she said. “Can we start going for the people who were allocated initially? We go for the people on the ground. Let them chase the people who are behind it,” she added.
“We directed that it be valued at today’s market rate.” she said.
Some analysts have approximated the value of the property at Sh350 million, a figure Ms Mbagaya dismissed.
“I know people are talking about Sh350 million. That was not the figure that we had given. We are waiting for a valuation report and we’ll share it,” she said.
Kenyans want more than just payment. The hotel should be brought down!
Here are some of their reactions.
What are your thoughts?