Naivasha MP Jane Kihara defends President Ruto's ownership of 5000-acre land

Speaking at a public Baraza, Kihara accused a section of leaders of being behind a syndicate of land grabbers targeting unsuspecting owners. 

The defence comes one week after 19 people were arrested for taking down a concrete fence surrounding the land and destroying property worth Ksh.2.3 million.

Kihara claims that the president genuinely bought the land from former Moi-era diplomat Benjamin Kulei.

“Nimekuja hapa ndio kama kuna shamba ya mtu hapa yenye rais amechukua aje hapa nimpeleke kwa rais ndio amwambie mheshimiwa rais ulichukua shamba yangu,” the MP said.

In a ruling issued by the high court in Nakuru in August 2023, Kulei lost his claim to the land, with the court stating that he failed to provide the land sale agreement to support his claim. 

Kulei had indicated that he bought the land from various individuals in 2007 who were allotted the property by the Agricultural Development Corporation. 

Justice Lynette Omollo ruled that neither Kulei nor the said individuals presented sufficient evidence to prove ownership. 

Farmers laying claim to the land have since threatened to shut down schools in the area until they are issued with a title to the land 

“Naskia kuna watu walisema ati watafunga shule na enyewe kuna watu wanajua kuongea vitu zenye hawawezi kweli si ata mdomo uirudishe kidogo unafunga shule ya nini? i want to dare them wajaribu nataka ku dare them wajaribu,”said  Naivasha DCC Mutua Kisilu.

“Ati naona mtu kwa hiyo karuninga aksiema kama Ruto ako na shamba hapa akuje kama ameuma title deed kwa meno surely you have no respect for the president unakuja hapa kuchochea watu ati ndio wakasirike wamenyanganywa shamba,” MP Kihara on her part said.

The 19 people arraigned at the Milimani law courts face charges of malicious damage to property. 

The accused allegedly destroyed a concrete fence worth Ksh.2.3 million on February 29 at Ndabibi area as they tried to gain access to the disputed piece of land.