A company associated with President William Ruto has lost a major legal battle over 1,643 acres of land in Ruai, valued at Ksh 13 billion, after a court ruled that the land had been illegally acquired.
The land, initially meant for Nairobi’s sewer system expansion, became a key issue that contributed to the fallout between Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of the 2022 elections.
The court’s ruling highlighted serious questions over land ownership in Kenya, especially among politically connected individuals.
The land in question had been reserved for public use to expand the city’s sewer system.
However, it was irregularly acquired by Renton Company Limited, a company linked to Ruto, causing legal proceedings.
This ruling is part of broader land-related controversies surrounding president William Ruto, who has faced previous legal challenges, including the high-profile case involving the Weston Hotel.
The hotel is built on land allegedly acquired unlawfully, leading to years of litigation.
In both the Ruai and Weston cases, the courts have pointed to illegal processes in obtaining the land, reflecting broader concerns about land reform and political involvement in such matters.
On December 2023, a major development occurred when Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki reversed a gazette notice issued during Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
The previous notice had designated the Ruai land as protected public property, intended for the sewer system.
However, Kindiki’s new gazette notice allowed for the land’s subdivision and private use, signaling a policy shift under the President William Ruto’s government.
This move paved the way for potential commercial exploitation of the land, despite its initial public purpose.
This decision, however, adds to Ruto’s growing list of legal challenges related to land, as Renton Company, through its legal team, is expected to appeal the court’s ruling.
The dispute over the Ruai land poses the deep-rooted issues of land ownership in Kenya, particularly involving powerful political figures.
It also raises questions about the balance between public interest and private gain in land acquisition and development.
Disputes over land earmarked for public projects, such as the Nairobi sewer expansion, are likely to continue.
The court’s decision in the Ruai case sets a precedent for future legal battles over public land, especially in high-stakes cases involving influential individuals.
These land ownership controversies will likely remain a big issue in the country’s political and legal field for years to come.
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