Barclays Bank has now been drawn into the Sh8 billion Karen land case
High Court judge Lucy Gacheru ordered that the financial institution be enjoined as an interested party following an agreement by lawyers from all the parties. Horatius Da Gama Rose, through his lawyer Cecil Miller, had applied to have the bank enjoined in the suit so it could shed light on who owned the land.
In his application, Mr Miller told the court he needed to have the bank in the suit to give its side of the story for the court to know who the real owner of the 134.4 acres was.
Mr Rose, who owns Muchanga Investments, was seeking to have former Barclays trustees tell the court whether they ever dealt with John Kamau, who is said to have transferred the land to Telesource.com Limited.
According to Rose, his company had brokered a deal with the financial institution for the purchase of the land belonging to Arnold Bradley in 1983. The land had been charged to the bank and the title was discharged in 1989.
political differences
"We have by consent agreed that Barclays Bank should be enjoined as an interested party," Miller said.
The lawyers who included Steve Gikera, representing Telesource.com, also agreed that one Catherine Ng'ang'a should be enjoined as the ninth defendant in the case.
Ms Ng'ang'a is also claiming to have a stake in the land.
The court heard that despite lawyers serving Mr Kamau, he had not responded to the case that has attracted a wave of political differences between Deputy President William Ruto and some Coalition for Reforms and Democracy leaders. Parties will file submissions for highlighting within 28 days.
Justice Gacheru extended stay orders until December 10, when the case will be heard.
