Cord calls on Ruto to quit, surrender land

Weston Hotel on Langa'ata Road Nairobi on November 15, 2014. ANTHONY OMUYA (NAIROBI)

What you need to know:

  • Co-chairmen, Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama and his Siaya counterpart James Orengo said Mr Ruto should face the same consequences faced by other members of the Cabinet suspended over claims of corruption.
  • “We are shocked the DP has confessed to be the owner of Weston Hotel built on stolen land. We have documents showing the piece of land has changed hands several times to cover up the grabbing,” said Mr Muthama.
  • The two said it will be hypocritical for the government to remove Cabinet Secretaries implicated in corruption and leave the DP even after confessed owning land grabbed from a State parastatal.

The Opposition Friday piled pressure on Deputy President William Ruto to quit after confessing he owns the controversial Weston Hotel along Langata Road in Nairobi.

Cord also wants him to surrender to the government, the land on which the hotel sits over claims the parcel was illegally acquired.

Co-chairmen, Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama and his Siaya counterpart James Orengo said Mr Ruto should face the same consequences faced by other members of the Cabinet suspended over claims of corruption.

“We are shocked the DP has confessed to be the owner of Weston Hotel built on stolen land. We have documents showing the piece of land has changed hands several times to cover up the grabbing,” said Mr Muthama.

Mr Orengo said the government had developed a habit of trying to smear opposition members with corruption allegations to divert attention.

“The agitated war against corruption being spearheaded by Jubilee government with Ruto leading as Deputy President is an abuse of leadership and integrity standards,” said Mr Orengo.

HYPOCRITICAL

The two said it will be hypocritical for the government to remove Cabinet Secretaries implicated in corruption and leave the DP even after confessed owning land grabbed from a State parastatal.

The senators who spoke at Parliament Buildings Friday said Kenyans will only take the fight against corruption seriously if Mr Ruto surrenders the hotel to the public.

On Tuesday during a show on Citizen TV, Mr Ruto admitted he has shares in the hotel that was at the centre controversy when pupils of Langata Road Primary school was teargased for protesting against grabbing of the school’s land.

Then, Mr Patrick Osero, close business associate of Mr Ruto, claimed ownership of the Hotel and distanced it from the alleged grabbing of the school’s land.

“If you own a land illegally acquired the first thing you should do is surrender it to the government,” said Mr Orengo.