Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Ruto defends Weston hotel, says Raila was present when it was being built


DP William Ruto joins Maasai traditional dancers in a dance at Uhuru market during the commissioning of town roads in Narok town. Photo/Charles Kimani/DPPS
DP William Ruto joins Maasai traditional dancers in a dance at Uhuru market during the commissioning of town roads in Narok town. Photo/Charles Kimani/DPPS
June 23, 2015
BY NANCY AGUTU
Cord leader Raila Odinga was present when Weston Hotel was being built in Lang'ata, Deputy President William Ruto has said.
“Tinga (Raila Odinga) must have forgotten that he already sent his man Jacob Juma (of the Erad scandal fame) to court over Weston hotel built when he was the Prime Minister," he said on his twitter account on Tuesday.
“Weston hotel was not in the Ndungu report nor the many James Orengo cancelled. It was build in Lang'ata over 10yrs when Tinga was both MP and PM,” he said.
In response to his allegations, Businessman Jacob Juma lashed out at Ruto saying he should simply return KCAA public land to Kenyans.
"Facts speak for themselves, return public land. You have been involved in many land scandals. You must stop grabbing public land. Ngong Forest, Muteshi," read a tweet from Juma.
Juma said he is not Raila's press service as insinuated by Ruto on many occasions.
"I am not Raila's messenger. I am the people's watchman. National Cereal and Produce Board is a scandal in your imagination," he said.
"Do you remember when I took you to Jirongo 14 years ago while you were staying in Kawangware? Where was Raila in our lives?" asked Juma.
The Star could not immediately establish whether Juma took Ruto to Jirongo's home.
Juma said he had tabled his evidence of the land (Weston) to the court and it was high time Ruto did the same.
This comes after Raila on Monday launched a scathing attack on President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto, accusing them of deceit in the war on corruption.
Raila challenged the President to show his seriousness in fighting corruption by first repossessing the land on which Ruto's Weston Hotel stands and demolishing it, since it was built on public land.
On June 3, Ruto admitted that he owns shares in the controversial Weston Hotel along Lang’ata Road saying that his admission was “a good confession that sets the record straight,”
Ruto however denied allegations that he is involved in the land - grabbing scandal plaguing the hotel stating that he has no reason to explain himself over the Lang'ata Primary School controversies because he is not part of the scam.
On March 4, Jacob Juma wanted the title deed for the piece of land on which Weston Hotel sits to be revoked. In a petition he said  the land was set aside for the Directorate of Civil Aviation, now the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
Juma said the property was unavailable for alienation by the time of transfer to Priority Limited and Munene Investments.
He said the grant issued to the two companies was illegal and that the Lands commissioner breached public trust when he allotted the property on August 30, 2002.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/ruto-defends-weston-hotel-says-raila-was-present-when-it-was-being-built#sthash.6fMjSWyo.evvU1z9A.dpuf

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