Gumo supports DP William Ruto over Weston Hotel

Former Regional Development Minister Fred Gumo has defended Deputy President William Ruto over the ownership of land on which the controversial Weston Hotel is built.

Gumo said the land might have been acquired after Kenya Civil Aviation Authority surrendered it.

"The Government always allocates plots of lands to various parastatals, but if they are unable to develop it, it is surrendered. Am sure that is what happened to Weston Hotel land," said Gumo.

Addressing the Press yesterday evening at a Nairobi hotel, Gumo also admitted having had interest in the land.

"This piece was surrendered back and I applied for it, but it appears Ruto was more luck," said Gumo.

Ruto is on record saying he has interest in Weston Hotel and that it is not on public land.

The former Westlands MP also backed the proposed amendment to the Constitutional, saying the new supreme law makes running of the Government difficult.

Presidency 'toothless'

He described the current presidency as 'toothless, and added that the Constitution should also be amended to give back the President executive powers.

Gumo said President Uhuru Kenyatta cannot run the Government because the new Constitution took away almost all the powers formerly vested in the institution of the presidency.

"Right now the President cannot fire or appoint a person without the approval of Parliament. This is what is causing problems. There is lack of discipline because the civil servants knows that you cannot just fire them," added Gumo.

The retired politician also challenged his Coalition for Reforms and Democracy colleagues to join hands with the Government in fighting the challenges facing the country such as corruption and terrorism.

He said the Opposition should offer constructive criticism and should not appear to be on a fault-finding mission.

CORD has been piling pressure on Devolution CS Anne Waiguru to step aside over graft allegations at the National Youth Service.