Ruto apologised to me, says man in land case

Eldoret North MP William Ruto apologised to a man who claims that the lawmaker grabbed his land in Turbo during the post-election violence.

Mr Gilbert Adrian Muteshi told the High Court in Nairobi that Mr Ruto initiated a meeting with him over the matter.

Mr Ruto and his lawyer, Mr Katwa Kigen, then went to Mr Muteshi’s office where they met in the presence of his lawyer, Mr Anthony Lubulellah.

The farmer asked Mr Ruto why he wanted to meet him, and Mr Ruto said: “Mzee, I want to apologise to you. I had no bad intention. I was cheated into buying the farm.”

Mr Ruto also told him that he had vacated the farm, removed his belongings and that he (the farmer) was free to return, Mr Muteshi told Justice Rose Ougo.

The Eldoret North MP added that he had only left a skeletal staff on the farm to take care of it until Mr Muteshi was ready to return.

The farmer, who was testifying in court, said he told Mr Ruto that he did not have any problem with that, except that the MP must pay the cost of litigation and compensate him for lost profits.

The meeting took place on May 8, according to Mr Lubulellah.

2008 violence

On Monday, the court also heard that Mr Ruto had vacated the land, but Mr Muteshi, who fled during the 2008 violence, had not returned.

Mr Ruto said he did not know that the land had been irregularly transferred before he bought it.

He has since written to the Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the matter and take appropriate action on anyone found culpable.

In March, the MP agreed to vacate the land, but denied wrongdoing.

However, the two failed to agree on compensation, which Mr Muteshi had demanded, forcing the matter to go to trial.