The High Court in Nairobi has imposed restrictions on land linked to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua by prohibiting the Ministry of Lands from conducting transactions on the contested property.
The Environment and Land Court’s Justice Oguttu Mboya issued instructions, directing the Former Director Of Physical Planning Michael Ohas not to sell or transfer the land, located near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, valued at KSh1.5 billion until the case has been heard and decided.
Gachagua informed the court through his attorneys that he bought the land for Ksh24 million from a business run by Peter Nduati and Ms Pauline Muringe, who owned it through Karandi Firm Limited.
He stated that the two were offered the land on April 30, 1999, for KSh. 554,000.
Gachagua added that Ohas had fraudulently fabricated documents to transfer the land to himself and a firm, Columbus Two Thousand Ltd, connected to him in 2019.
Read: Rigathi Gachagua Loses Ksh200 Million In Case Against State
Ohas claimed to have received the land on February 3, 1994, from former President Daniel Moi, which according to him, was later transferred to Wamunyoro Investments Ltd.
Later, in April 2017, Ohas sought to regain ownership of the land through the National Land Commission (NLC) and the chief land registrar, who directed him to seek counsel from the police and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Although it was noted that he withdrew the case contesting possession of the site in June 2022, the DP’s legal team declared they would continue to pursue the matter until it was resolved.
Read: The Last Of DP Rigathi Gachagua’s Brothers Jack Reriani Dies
According to Gachagua, the property is leased to Equity Bank as security for various financial facilities issued to him at KSh200 million.
He now wants the court to declare him the rightful owner of the property, with the case set to be heard on October 13, 2022.
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