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CORD lawmakers a no-show in Karen land probe

Those who were expected at Integrity Centre included Senators James Orengo, Johnson Muthama, Boni Khalwale (UDF) and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed/FILE

Those who were expected at Integrity Centre included Senators James Orengo, Johnson Muthama, Boni Khalwale (UDF) and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 29 – Four Opposition lawmakers who failed to turn up to present evidence at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for the second time on Wednesday say they are gathering more information about the disputed 134-acre Karen land before volunteering it to detectives.

A statement issued by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) indicated that the four legislators were meeting several people, including Members of Parliament who claim they were offered plots in the Sh8 billion prime land.

“CORD leaders who were to appear at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to shed more light on the contested land in Karen are currently meeting members of the public and leaders who have come up with more damning information on the same land. Those volunteering information include Members of Parliament who declined offers of plots on the same land. The leaders will therefore not appear at Integrity Centre this morning. A new time with EACC will be communicated,” former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Spokesman Dennis Onyango said in a statement sent to newsrooms.

The leaders had sent information to journalists earlier on Wednesday morning that they would report to the EACC offices but they were a no-show.

They were expected to arrive at 9am but the communication that they would not show up was delivered about two hours later.

Those who were expected at Integrity Centre included Senators James Orengo, Johnson Muthama, Boni Khalwale (UDF) and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed.

EACC Spokesman Yassin Amaro said they were yet to receive communication from the leaders on the latest development.

It is the second time the leaders failed to turn up at the EACC since they made the allegations that they had evidence to link the land grabbing to several government leaders including Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu and Deputy President William Ruto.

Ruto has threatened to take legal action against the legislators for linking him to the land grabbing saga. Ruto’s lawyer Kioko Kilukumi sent letters for the four plus Senator Elizabeth Ongoro over the claims.

In terming the allegations as defamatory Ruto asked the leaders to retract their statement and admit liability for defaming him and causing him harm with the allegations.

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Businessman Horatius Da Gama Rose is laying claim to the land and his lawyer Cecil Miller has obtained orders blocking further development of the land but the occupiers had previously disregarded the directive of the court to keep off the land.

Da Gama Rose says he purchased the land through his company Muchanga Investments Limited in 1982 at Sh1.2 million from Arnold Bradley.

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