Ruto links Weston Hotel demolition push to 2022 poll
Weston Hotel in Nairobi.
What you need to know:
- The hotel has filed fresh court papers arguing that the suit is a conspiracy between KCAA and certain political actors.
- The authority has challenged National Land Commission (NLC) ruling the Weston Hotel should retain the land and compensate KCAA at the current market value.
Deputy President William Ruto has linked the court bid to demolish Weston Hotel to the 2022 Presidential Elections where he is fighting to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The hotel has filed fresh court papers arguing that the suit is a conspiracy between the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and certain political actors to politicise the controversial land deal for cheap political drama.
KCAA is pushing for revocation of the title issued in the 1990s, which ultimately will lead to the demolition of the Weston hotel.
The authority has challenged National Land Commission (NLC) ruling the Weston Hotel should retain the land and compensate KCAA at the current market value, drawing opposition from the hotel.
"It is a cheap attempt on the part of the conspirators to malign and scandalise the Deputy President because it is believed he has certain interest and association with the property," reads submission filed by Weston lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi.
“The suit is being prosecuted to damage him politically. It is precisely because of that political scheme that the petitioner (KCAA) had been forced to file this petition instead of filling an appeal from the decision of the 1st respondent (NLC).”
Weston Hotel through its lawyer reckon that KCAA was under instructions to undertake a political hatchet job on Dr Ruto and the case is "wanton act of political skullduggery".
Weston Hotel wants the dismissal of a suit where KCAA wants to repossess the land where the facility sits. The hotel said KCAA erred in filing a fresh suit in court instead of challenging a 2019 decision of the NLC.
Mr Abdullahi reckons the law provides a procedure for an appeal before the Environment and Land Court, adding that KCAA should have appealed against NLC instead of filing a fresh suit.
KCAA wants the decision by NLC directing the management of the hotel to compensate the agency for the land, quashed.
Weston has maintained that it was an innocent purchaser and the case was filed with ulterior motives, especially after NLC made a finding that the title was acquired legally.
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