Trader now seeks caveat on DP William Ruto’s Weston Hotel land

Martin Njeru, an Embu businessman, speaks to journalists outside Embu Law Courts Tuesday. He has moved to court seeking to restrain Deputy President William Ruto from transferring or dealing with the land on which Weston Hotel sits. [PHOTO: JOSEPH MUCHIRI/STANDARD]

KENYA: An Embu businessman has moved to court seeking to restrain Deputy President William Ruto from transferring or dealing with the land on which Weston Hotel sits.

Under a certificate of urgency, Martin Njeru, a land dealer, wants the court to issue temporary orders against Ruto and his agents; restraining them from further alienating, transferring, wasting or dealing with the land until his application and the petition are heard and determined.

Mr Muriithi who says he sued on his own behalf and that of Kenyan citizens says the petition is premised on grounds that Ruto publicly admitted he owns the hotel; which was built on public land.

"The respondent is likely to use his influence as the DP to further alienate the said public land," reads the application.

He argues that Kenyans are entitled to information concerning the ownership of Weston Hotel and the process under which the land on which the hotel lies was acquired, while Ruto being a State officer owes the citizens a duty to disclose information concerning how the hotel was built on public land.

He further wants the court to declare Ruto not morally fit to hold any public or State office and that he should step aside for investigations into his conduct.

Muriithi presented his application, petition and supporting affidavit to the High Court in Embu Tuesday but was referred to file it at Milimani High Court in Nairobi since the said hotel is located in the city.

Though he says he has no money to hire a lawyer, Muriithi asserts no one has sponsored him to file the petition but is driven by zeal to protect public land.