Nairobi’s Weston Hotel, owned by Deputy President William Ruto, says it cannot be compelled to vacate the parcel of land where it stands, insisting that it was an innocent buyer.
In their response to a case filed by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), Weston’s management states that the hotel paid to acquire the land located along Lang’ata Road in Nairobi.
The management further notes that the hotel did due diligence before purchasing the land and confirmed the sanctity of the title, Daily Nation reported.
They want the court to dismiss the case by KCAA, saying that it was filed with ulterior motives as the National Land Commission (NLC) found the title was not acquired fraudulently.
“Consequently, the allegation of fraudulent acquisition and registration are unsubstantiated and nothing short of mere rumors propagated by the petitioner in a resort to infringe, violate and limit Weston’s right to property,” Weston General Manager Michael Nzile says in an affidavit.
Nzile says Weston acquired the property from Priority Limited and Monene Investment Limited and that the title cannot be revoked as requested by KCAA.
He urges the court to uphold the sanctity of its title and dismiss KCAA’s petition, which according to him, does not meet the required threshold for granting conservatory orders.
Lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi, representing Weston Hotel, also urged the court to throw out the petition by KCAA for lack of merit.
“KCAA’s allegations raised in the petition are pregnant with malice and falsities, and a progeny of the KCAA’s insatiable desire to make mischief, and are meant to deprive or threaten Weston Hotel’s property rights and unjustly enrich KCAA”, says Ahmednassir.
Environment and Land Court Justice Benard Ebosso stopped the implementation of the NLC’s January 25th decision, which directed the hotel’s owners to compensate KCAA for the land at the current market value to enable it to purchase alternative land.
KCAA has challenged the decision by NLC, arguing that the commission ignored the illegality and fraud perpetrated by Priority Limited, Monene Investment Limited, and Weston. KCAA maintains it wants its land back.
Quite amazing that DP Ruto…
Quite amazing that DP Ruto never ceases to be in the midst of corruption deals. The land where Weston is build belongs to the public. It is only fair that the hotel is demolished and the land reverted to the rightful owners. Ruto has a long history of being corrupt and greedy; with a sinister appetite to steal from ordinary Kenyans. This man does not meet the leadership test of any sort!