Land for Sh28b Ruto hospital in court dispute

Eldoret: The saga over the proposed Sh28 billion teaching and referral hospital in Eldoret has taken a new twist after it emerged that the land that had been earmarked for its construction was in dispute.

Hundreds of teachers yesterday jammed an Eldoret Environment and Land court anticipating the ruling on the land’s ownership case that has taken over nine years to be resolved.

The teachers, members of the Keiyo Teachers Sacco, had filed a suit against Eldoret GK Prison over ownership of a 100-acre piece in Uasin Gishu County, but the case was adjourned to July .

The multi-billion proposed hospital with 2,000-bed capacity has been in the news lately after Nairobi-based businessman Herbert Ojwang’ accused Deputy President William Ruto of corruptly influencing its construction rather than expanding the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) at the cost of Sh17 billion.

Appearing before the Adan Keynan-led Public Investment Committee a month ago, Mr Ojwang’ alleged that the current procurement of a Sh28 billion contract for construction of the new referral hospital in Kiplombe was a scandal which would see Kenyans lose Sh11 billion in tax payers’ cash.

The businessman linked Ruto to the scam alleging that the Deputy President, using his influence, changed a deal for upgrading MTRH at a cost of Sh17 billion that he was co-ordinating and in its place proposed the setting up of the new facility, raising the expenditure to Sh28 billion.

The teachers claimed to have purchased the land in 2004 from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) but, two years later, the Eldoret prison ejected them from the parcel claiming ownership.

But Justice Anthony Ombwayo did not give a ruling instead adjourned the case until July 1, this year when the court will hold a hearing at the disputed land.

Keiyo Teachers Sacco, through advocate Joseph Kiptarus, said they are happy about the courts’ decision since they want the matter to be expedited.

“Some of the members who purchased the land have since died while others have retired from service and they are yet to benefit from their investment,” said Kiptarus.

However, Mr Kiptarus said he has heard about the referral hospital matter but no official complaint has been launched.

“I have been receiving reports by some individuals that the land has been surveyed. What we are interested in at the moment is to win the case at hand,” said the advocate.

The Sacco also wants the court to stop the prison department from cultivating the land.

“The court had given a neutral injunction where the two warring parties should not access the land but the defendant has been acting in absolute disregard of the injunction and they should be stopped,” Kiptarus said.