Ruto loses bid to stop Sh5m order to pay

Deputy President William Ruto has lost an appeal against orders requiring him to pay Sh5 million for illegally occupying land owned by a post-election violence victim.

High Court judge Rose Ougo ruled on Friday that Mr Ruto failed to convince the court on why he should not pay the amount as compensation to Mr Adrian Gilbert Muteshi.

She also slapped the DP with an additional order that he pays Mr Muteshi for costs he has incurred in the case.

While dismissing Mr Ruto’s appeal, judge Ougo said that Mr Muteshi would be denied justice if he is not compensated.

“Mr Ruto has failed to demonstrate why an order should be granted to stop the earlier order that required him to pay Mr Muteshi the stated amount as compensation for illegally occupying the alleged property. The intended order will cause Mr Muteshi injustice,” ruled the judge.

However, she granted a request by Mr Ruto’s lawyer Katwa Kigen for a fourteen-day stay of execution of the ruling.

The judge agreed with Mr Katwa’s contention that there would be no harm done if the order was to be delayed for fourteen days after her ruling on the DP’s appeal.