IDP: Ruto apologised to me over land

By Judy Ogutu      

An Internally Displaced Person (IDP) has told a High Court in Nairobi that Eldoret MP William Ruto has apologized to him over the acquisition of a land in Uasin Gishu.

Mr Adrian Gilbert Muteshi, who is engaged in a legal tussle with Ruto over the 100-acre piece of land told the court that he had met Ruto who also informed him that he wants to hand back the land to him.

“He (Ruto) told me mzee, I want to apologize, I want to hand back your land. I will not plant this year, I will remove all my employees. When you want it (land) back, let me know,” Muteshi testified.

When Ruto apologized to him, he informed him that he was cheated out of the land deal.

In the case, Muteshi claims Ruto illegally took his piece of land in Kaptabei Scheme, Uasin Gishu, after the 2007-2008 post-election violence.

When giving evidence in court in 2011, the farmer had claimed that six workers at his 100-acre farm in Kaptabei Scheme, Uasin Gishu, were kicked out of the property in 2008 and have been unable to return since then.

"I went near the farm after the post-election violence and got information that Ruto had taken over the land," he had told the court.’

On Monday, while being cross-examined by lawyer Katwa Kigen, Muteshi narrated before Justice Rose Ougo the discussions they held with Ruto when they met.

He recalled how he received a phone call from his advocate Anthony Lubulela informing him that Ruto would like to meet him.

Muteshi said he agreed and they met with his advocate, Lubulela, Katwa and Ruto.

He told the judge when they met, he asked Ruto what he wanted as the matter was in court.

 “I told him I would only agree to what he wanted before the court. I do not have a problem getting back my land but the court has to clear it first. I also told him I would agree on condition that I am paid damages and what I have gone through for five years when I did not use the land,” he said.

In the case, the applicant claims that efforts to conduct a search on whether ownership of the property had changed were unsuccessful and he was forced to write to the Commissioner of Lands, asking him to intervene.

On June 8, 2010, the District Lands Registrar wrote to the commissioner explaining that the land was under the name of Dorothy Jemutai Yator.

Yator allegedly sold the property to Ruto. Muteshi argues that he has never charged the property’s title to secure money loaned the woman by the settlement trustee.

Yator, who is alleged to have sold the land to Ruto sub-divided the 100 acres into nine titles.

The IDP has denied selling the land to anybody, saying he believes he is a victim of fraud, manipulation of government processes and unfair treatment.