How Ruto defended himself against land grabbing claims

President William Ruto, then Deputy President, sued Johnstone Muthama (former Machakos senator), James Orengo (Siaya governor), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega senator), Elizabeth Ongoro (nominated MP) and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed after they accused him of grabbing the land.

In his case, Ruto said he was a clean and law-abiding citizen.

="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000087019/deputy-president-william-ruto-loses-land-case">He added that no< one had ever complained to the authorities about him and the land circus.

“ The plaintiff (Ruto) avers that he is not in any way connected with the alleged land grabbing as postulated by the defendants,” said Ruto through his lawyer, Kioko Kilukumi.

Ruto said that statements by the then five Coalition for Reforms and Democracy leaders during a political rally greatly injured his reputation. He added that he would line up witnesses to show that his good reputation as a leader was brought into public ridicule.

“The plaintiff avers that he has at all times upheld his oath of office and observed with diligence the constitutional edicts enumerated by the defendants,” court papers which were then filed before Justice Richard Mwongo read. “The defendants have not shown how the plaintiff has disregarded such constitutional values.”

="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001504007/ruto-linked-company-loses-sh13b-ruai-land-case">On the other hand,< the five opposition lawmakers claimed that the case by the DP was a plot to gag them during the political campaigns period.

In an application filed by lawyer Anthony Oluoch seeking to dismiss the case as a matter of urgency, they said the case would affect their campaigns across the country.

“The first to fifth defendants are all public figures and Members of Parliament respectively seeking seats in the August 2017 general elections. It is clear the suit was filed to gag them and is causing them great anxiety,” Oluoch argued, adding:

“The plaintiff (Ruto) has subjected the defendants to unnecessary anxiety with a suit hanging on them five months to the end of parliament and next general elections.”

They argued that they had a right, as opposition, to keep the government in check adding that they talked of Ruto for failing to take action as a government official.

I="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/national/article/2001488463/land-grabbing-concerns-tarnish-rutos-affordable-housing-project">n the case, the five< claimed that it was men and women within Ruto’s circles who were grabbing lands in alliance with other unnamed public officers, adding that he failed as a leader for refusing to crack a whip on them.

“The persons who have designed and executed land grabbing, which is the subject matter, were all subordinates of the plaintiff and other public officers.”

They added that the Jubilee administration, which the DP was then a part of, had allegedly presided over massive looting of public resources since it took over power in 2013.