Ex-minister helped me acquire land, says driver
What you need to know:
- “I was his driver when he came to parliament and had worked for him since I was 18 years old,” said Mr Kitur when he appeared before the National Assembly’s Lands Committee.
- Mr Kitur told the MPs he was the legal owner of the land, having been presented with a genuine title deed by the ministry in 1997 after buying it for Sh485,000.
- “Although he was a driver, he has the right to own land anywhere in this country like anyone else,” Mr Onyango told the committee sitting at Parliament Buildings.
Former Health Minister Paul Sang helped his driver acquire a two-acre plot next to State House, which has triggered controversy following a move by the Lands ministry to repossess it, MPs heard.
The driver, Mr Julius Kitur, who is laying claim to the prime plot, said: “Mr Sang helped me process the title deed for the land in 1997.”
“I was his driver when he came to parliament and had worked for him since I was 18 years old,” said Mr Kitur when he appeared before the National Assembly’s Lands Committee.
Mr Kitur told the committee, chaired by Tharaka MP Alex Muiru, that he had learnt about the availability of the land through friends and had gone ahead to purchase it with assistance from his brother, Mr Raphael Kitur, a former MP for Konoin.
Mr Kitur told the MPs he was the legal owner of the land, having been presented with a genuine title deed by the ministry in 1997 after buying it for Sh485,000.
He said some unknown people have been pursuing him since then, threatening to kill him if he does not surrender the title deed to them.
“The first death threat was in 1998 and since then I have been followed by people who have been demanding the title deed I was given,” said Mr Kitur.
The MPs, however, wondered how Mr Kitur could have acquired the land yet he was still in the village prior to 1998, when Mr Sang joined Parliament.
GENUINE OWNER
His lawyer, Mr Tom Onyango, said Mr Kitur was the genuine owner and that his former occupation did not matter.
“If the government is claiming the land, it must follow lawful steps to reclaim it. If that is not done, we will be sliding into anarchy.
“Although he was a driver, he has the right to own land anywhere in this country like anyone else,” Mr Onyango told the committee sitting at Parliament Buildings.
The land has been at the centre of controversy after Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu tried to reclaim it in January. Several people came out claiming they had genuine documents for it.
The lawmakers pushed Mr Kitur to reveal the person who could have helped him acquire the land.
“This committee is not insinuating that a driver cannot own land near State House. What we want is to verify the process of acquiring the piece of land,” said Rangwe MP George Oner.
Other legislators defended him, saying he was already close to powerful individuals who were in government then.
