Deputy President William Ruto has received a major boost in the claim against him city hotel, Weston.
The National Land Commission came to the defense of Dr. William Ruto by defending its decision to allow the Deputy President to pay for the land on which Weston hotel sits despite the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority claiming it.
In the latest filings in court, NLC argued that KCAA just wanted to ignore Ruto’s right as a legitimate buyer of the property.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the remedy of restitution sought by the petitioner would mean that the NLC would turn a blind eye to Weston Hotel’s rights as a bonafide purchaser and further act in violation of Section 14 of the NLC Act which allows the Commission to issue consequential orders it deems appropriate in a claim, the Constitution of Kenya and the Fair Administrative Act,” NLC said.
However, the Aviation Authority opposed the decision in court. KCAA argued that the hotel was built on public land designated as a fight path. According to the civil aviation authority, the land was irregularly transferred to private developers.
It said NLC has no authority to order for compensation or compel a person who had grabbed public land to compensate the government or its agencies.
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the land commission through its filing claimed the suit by KCAA is contempt of the court process and should be dismissed.
The backing of NLC comes just days after William Ruto changed his legal strategy in the fight for Weston Hotel and said he is ready to pay.
The DP now wants the civil aviation authority to conclude negotiations for compensation as ordered by the NLC instead of pursuing a fresh case seeking to repossess the property.
