Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to be Questioned over Multi-Billion Shilling Ruaraka Land Scandal

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is among high profile individuals set to be grilled over multi-billion shilling Ruaraka land scandal.

This is after Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Hajji returned the files of the case to the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) and directed the body to question more persons linked to the controversial deal.

Hajji wants Matiang’i and former Attorney General Githu Muigai to record statements on their role in the Sh3.3 billion deal.

Githu is said to have recorded a statement with the commission on Thursday, while Matiang’i, who had recorded a statement earlier, will record a fresh statement at the Integrity House on Monday.

EACC had sent files on 26 individuals recommended for prosecution to the DPP, but Hajji returned the files after finding loopholes in the cases.

Among personalities who EACC had recommended for prosecution included, National Lands Commission chairman Muhammad Swazuri, two commissioners at the lands commission, a Principal Secretary, and a number of officials at the Ministry of Lands.

Two public schools namely; Ruaraka Secondary School and Drive Inn Primary School, risk being evicted from the land after it emerged they are sitting on private land.

Appearing before Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee last month, Lands Cabinet Secretary Farida Karoney said the allotment letter issued to Ruaraka High School and Drive Inn Primary School 34 years ago was irregular.

The scandal came to light after the government paid Sh1.5 billion as part of payment in acquiring land for the two institutions, yet the owner is still claiming Sh.1.7 billion.