ODM rejects names listed by Ngilu as directors of firm that 'grabbed' school land

Kenya: The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has rejected the list released by Lands Cabinet secretary Charity Ngilu linking them to land grabbing at Lang'ata Road Primary School in Nairobi.

The party also demanded that Weston Hotel be demolished or be reverted to the public claiming it is built on a property belonging to the Kenya Airports Authority.

ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba (Budalangi MP) dismissed the names of directors, who are alleged to have grabbed the school’s playground, saying the CS’s action points to a cover up.

“The initial reluctance by the relevant State agencies to intervene and the alarming massive deployment of police at the said property, all points to the involvement of people in high places,” said Namwamba.

Namwamba, while addressing journalists at Orange House, flanked by MPs James Nyika (Seme), Millie Odhiambo (Mbita), Silvance Oselle (Kabondo/ Kasipul) and Mercy Otara (Kisii County MP), regretted to note the government was unable to expose people "who have demonstrated high appetite for land, seizing every opportunity to acquire available land"

“Ngilu was hesitant to reveal the names of the alleged grabber. We reject this notion that all that Ngilu had was the names of the Singhs, yet she had threatened to reveal the names and resign,” said the MP.

He continued: “There is an indication that the Singhs are no more than a decoy deployed to hoodwink the public. We hold that this is a cynical insult to the intelligence of Kenyans.”

The party has now demanded that Ngilu lifts the veil and reveal the real names behind the grabbing.

“We want to know the people responsible for this Langata land saga and are hiding behind the facade of the Singhs,” said Namwamba.

The legislators lashed at the Jubilee administration over what they termed a perfected tradition of powerful people hiding behind the "Singhs and Shahs", while real culprits go scot-free.

“We also demand that the Jubilee administration gets to the bottom of the grabbing of public land in and around Wilson Airport, with specific reference to the land on which Weston Hotel stands,” he said.