William Ruto sues Cord leaders over Karen land

Deputy President William Ruto has made good his threat to sue four senators and an MP allied to Cord for defamation after they linked him to the controversial 134 acres in Karen.

Mr Ruto wants Senators Johnson Muthama, James Orengo, Boni Khalwale, Elizabeth Ongoro and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed stopped from uttering or publishing further statements alleging he participated in the alleged land grabbing.

Through Kioko Kilukumi and Company Advocates, Mr Ruto is seeking an order compelling the five to publicly apologise to him and pay him general damages for defamation.

“Airing and publication of the statements has tarnished Mr Ruto’s name and caused him damages. The defendants have refused to apologise and will continue making similar defamatory statements unless they are stopped by the court,” Mr Kilukumi said.

At the centre of the dispute is Sh8 billion-worth prime land, which businessman Horatius Da Gama Rose claims to be his.

Mr Rose, through his company Muchanga Investments Ltd, has sued Telesource Com Limited, Habenga Holdings, Jina Enterprises Ltd and the Ministry of Lands for allegedly invading his land.

Telesource associated with former National Social Security Fund boss Jos Konzolo maintains it legally bought the land from Jina Enterprises, which allegedly bought it from Habenga Holdings, and that it has sub-divided it and sold it to other parties.

During a press conference, the Cord leaders alleged that the land had been grabbed by top Jubilee officials whom they demanded should record statements with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

In his affidavit, Mr Ruto said he received calls from friends and family following the defendants’ adverse reference to him.

“I was extremely embarrassed and at pains to explain to my associates the stories were all lies and that I had no involvement in the alleged land grabbing in Karen,” swore Ruto. “They never bothered to know if I owned a piece of the disputed land.”