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A case in which Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is fighting for Sh1.5 billion property near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will now be heard on March 16.

Justice Ogutu Mboya of Environment and Lands Court yesterday adjourned the hearing of the case after he was informed that Gachagua’s lawyer Philip Nyachoti was indisposed.

Gachagua has been fighting over the land with former director of physical planning John Michael Ohas and his company Columbus Two Thousand Limited.

The DP through his company Wamunyoro Investments  accuses Ohas of illegally obtaining the  title deed of the said land in December 2019 and registering it in his company’s name.

Yesterday, the court heard that Ohas’ company, Columbus Two Thousand Limited intends to substitute him as a prime witness as he was unwell.

“We may at some point consider substituting  Michael John Ohas who is the prime witness, since he has  been ill for a while and was hospitalised recently,” a lawyer representing the said company told the court.

The deal

Justice Mboya directed the application to be made at the opportune time and adjourned the case to March 16. He fined Gachagua and his company Sh5,000 for the adjournment of the case.

“The plaintiff shall pay court adjournment fees of Sh5,000 payable to the National Treasury within seven days in default  he shall have no right of audience,” ruled the Judge.

In court documents, Gachagua claims that he purchased the land for Sh24 million from Peter Nduati and Pauline Muringe who owned it through Karandi Farm Ltd and the land is currently charged at Equity Bank over a loan of Sh200 million.

He explained that he carried out due diligence and was able to confirm that the previous owners’ certificate of title was authentic and indeed genuine after they approached him with the intention of selling it.