DP William Ruto: I'm not a land grabber

Deputy President William Ruto has told a court that he is not involved in land grabbing.

Mr Ruto, in his case against five Opposition legislators - Johnstone Muthama (Machakos), James Orengo (Siaya), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Elizabeth Ongoro (nominated) and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, said he was a law abiding citizen.

He added that no one had ever complained to the authorities about him in respect to the alleged land-grabbing saga.

"The plaintiff( Ruto) avers that he is not in any way connected with the alleged land grabbing as postulated by the defendants," said Ruto through his lawyer Kioko Kilukumi.

The DP said statements by the five leaders during a political rally touching on 134.4-acre Karen land saga injured his reputation, adding that he would line up witnesses to show that his good reputation as a leader was brought into public ridicule.

But the five Opposition lawmakers argue the case by the DP was a plot to gag them during the political campaign period.

In an application filed by lawyer Anthony Oluoch seeking to dismiss the case as a matter of urgency, the five told the court it would affect their campaigns.

They argued that they had a right to keep the Government in check, adding that they mentioned Ruto for his failure to take action as a Government official.