Moi’s Multi-Billion Shilling Empire Faces Troubles and Turbulence

Sacho High School stands as a prominent feature located on the outskirts of Kipngochoch forest along the Kabarnet-Tenges Road.

Former President Daniel Moi’s infamous properties continue to be riddled with unanswered questions, contributing to ongoing complications for his extensive multi-billion-shilling empire created during his time in office. Tangled in numerous legal battles, the Moi-owned properties came under fire when a neighbouring Kabarak resident took legal action to reclaim his land. The most recent development involves a Nakuru court’s decision, instructing the elders to seek resolution in the Lands Court rather than the Constitutional Court.

These elders claim that Sacho High School, which was founded in 1982 through the collective fundraising efforts of Sacho residents, is a public asset. According to Justices Rachel Ngetich, Teresia Matheka, and Hillary Chemitei, the Constitutional Courts lack authority in land-related issues. The elders argue that the school’s location was once a section of the Kipngochoch forest, which was removed from protected status by legal notice No 356 of 1995. They further claim that they also contributed a portion of the land and maintain the legal position that public land should only be assigned for public, not private, purposes.

The trial has brought to light the power dynamics that existed between the former President and the local community, thus revealing the controversy surrounding Sacho High School. Evidence presented in court indicates that Sacho was officially recognized as a public institution on January 25, 1985, and received financial support and teachers from the Teachers Service Commission. However, the School Trustees argue that Sacho is, in fact, under the ownership of Sacho High School Trust, as stated in a Trust Deed dated July 17, 1985. The elders assert that Moi, who once served as the board’s chairman, deceived the Sacho community and transformed the public school into a private entity for his personal gain and profit, integrating it into his own empire.

Equity Bank CEO, James Mwangi, recently made an appearance in court to demand ownership of property he supposedly purchased from Moi for Sh300m. Mwangi asserts he paid Sh12m in stamp duty fees. Interestingly, United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) and Maestro Connections Health Systems run by businessman George Kiongera, have also come forward demanding Sh1m and sharing simultaneous claims to the same property. In 2016, it was claimed that Moi had been paid Sh500 million, but he passed away before the matter could be resolved in court. Another legal dispute involving the former President has come to light, this time involving a family from Eldoret.

The said group is battling for the repossession of an estimated 53 acres of property which supposedly came into Moi’s possession, and was subsequently sold to Jaswant Rai, a wealthy sugar industrialist. Recently, a magistrate from the Environment and Land Court came to the determination that Moi received the contested property via unlawful means after utilizing controversial tactics like duress and falsehoods. It was thus ruled that both Moi and Rai pay damages to Susan, wife of the now-late Noah Kipngeny Chelugui, a former chief, worth Sh1 billion to compensate for past discrepancies and wrongdoing. The case has now reached the Supreme Court where it has attracted attention. Last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed attempts by the executor of Moi’s will, senior counsel Zehrabanu Janmohamed, to overturn the ruling.