Azimio to probe William Ruto's acquisition of 2500 acre land in Taita-Taveta

Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga addresses supporters in Othaya Nyeri County. [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his allies yesterday promised to probe how Deputy President William Ruto acquired 2,500 acres of land in Taveta Sub County.

The DP has previously said he bought the land from former Taveta MP Basil Criticos after helping him service a loan. Mr Criticos is also on record saying he sold the land to the DP.

Yesterday, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, who accompanied the former premier, questioned the legality of allocating the land to the DP.

“We will investigate how Dr Ruto acquired over 2,500 acres of land in Taveta constituency. The land will be reverted back to the local community,” said Joho.

Raila, during the unveiling of Martha Karua as his running mate, in May, said he would appoint Joho Lands Cabinet Secretary should he win the presidency.

“When we take over the government in August, we will repossess the land belonging to the DP. We will also investigate the owner of the land who sold it to Dr Ruto. Why didn’t he sell the land to locals?” posed Joho.

Scared of Ruto

Addressing a series of rallies in Taita-Taveta County, Raila, who was accompanied by Karua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja, among other leaders, however, steered clear of land matters. He instead told his supporters that he was not scared of Ruto in the polls.

Deputy President William Ruto. [File, Standard]

“I am not scared and will not boycott the elections as claimed by the DP. I am fully in the presidential race and I will beat him in the first round in the August polls,” the ODM leader told his supporters at Wasinyi trading centre on the outskirts of Wundanyi town.

“My support base has increased. I have all supporters in all parts of the country and Kenyans have decided to overwhelmingly vote for me in the August polls.

“I appeal to you to turn out in large numbers to vote for me. Ruto should stop intimidating me,” Raila told his supporters.

 Raila’s tour was however characterised by sibling party rivalries with Samboja (Jubilee) and former Senator Dan Mwazo who is vying for the governor seat on a Wiper party ticket clashed in public, forcing Karua and Kalonzo to intervene.

Ms Karua told leaders to stop fighting in public. “Our opponents will take advantage of the wrangles,” she warned.