Nairobi businessman seeks Sh750m for GSU land

A businessman wants to be paid Sh600 million being balance of money awarded to him by the High Court.

Francis Mburu, a director of Afrison Export and Import Ltd has written to the State Law Office seeking the amount as part of the compensation for the land currently occupied by the General Service Unit (GSU) in Ruaraka, Nairobi.

Through his lawyer Harit Shet, he wrote to Solicitor General Njee Muturi in a letter dated May 20, 2016. He also wants the Government to pay him a further Sh150 million meant for the receiver of the bank that had charged the property.

"Kindly let us have Sh600 million together with Sh150 million being the sum due to the official receiver on behalf of Continental Credit Bank Ltd," the letter copied to Attorney General, Office of the President and Treasury PS reads in part.

The Government has already paid the firm Sh1.8 billion of the Sh2.4 billion agreed following an out of court settlement from the original sum of Sh4.08 billion awarded by judge Alfred Mabeya in 2013.

The payments have been contested in court with the latest being by activists Okiya Omtatah and Nyakina Gisebe who have filed an appeal seeking to overturn the compensation. However, the two have not obtained any orders.

In March 2013, Mr Mburu met State officials where a deal was struck to pay him the Sh2.4 billion.

Among those present included Victor Okioma from Office of the President and colleagues JM Kirubi, PN Mwangi and K Kamau while Senior Deputy Solicitor General Muthoni Kimani represented the State Law Office.

"After protracted negotiations, Mburu agreed to be paid Sh2.4 billion excluding the Sh150 million to the receiver," a letter from Ms Kimani to then Interior Permanent Secretary Mutea Iringo dated March 18, 2013 reads.

It adds: "In our view, the proposed settlement is fair taking into consideration the circumstances under which the Government entered and occupied the claimants' land."