Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu came to the rare defence of Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka against claims by Deputy President William Ruto that he grabbed land in Yatta, Machakos County.

Ngilu said she could vouch for Kalonzo as a person who upholds moral standing who has never grabbed a piece of land in any part of the country.

Land grabber

“I have been the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Lands and can confirm that Kalonzo acquired the Yatta land legally. I saw the documents myself; I personally authenticated them and can confirm that they were not forged,” Ngilu said.

She added: “The DP is the biggest land grabber of our time. It is deceitful of him to point fingers at one, least of all, Kalonzo who legally owns the Yatta land.

Ngilu’s response was unexpected as she has been accusing Kalonzo of sponsoring Members of the Kitui County Assembly to frustrate her by impeachment threats and failure to pass budget and approve her chief executives.

However, the two have closed ranks to hit back at the DP whose troops led by former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama have vowed to kick out Kalonzo’s Wiper Party out of Ukambani.

Ruto has rubbed a section of Ukambani leaders including Kalonzo the wrong way after fielding a candidate for the March 18  Machakos senate by-election.  

Ngilu hit out at Ruto, stating that he should be the last person to talk about land grabbing.

 “I am disturbed and perturbed by the utterances made by Ruto. His thirst for public land is insatiable,” Ngilu told a press conference yesterday.

Ngilu’s statement comes a day after Kalonzo launched a scathing attack on the DP, terming him a land grabber who should be investigated for his crimes.

Ruto, while addressing a rally last Friday in Bomet, alleged that Kalonzo had grabbed government land in Yatta.

Kalonzo cited several instances when the DP has been implicated in land grabbing.

“The allegations made by the DP are both frivolous and unsubstantiated.

They are cheap and a desperate attempt at character assassination,” Kalonzo told a press conference at a city hotel.

Hit back

But Kalonzo’s critics in the region hit back at Ngilu saying she should be the last person to attack Ruto.

“Before Ngilu can speak she should explain to Kenyans why she has run down the county government of Kitui.

She is herself gifted in corruption. Defending Kalonzo on NYS land is in itself corruption,” said Masinga MP Vincent Musau.

He added, “How else do you acquire NYS land other than through grabbing?

She could better share the criteria of acquiring such land instead of trying to use Kalonzo for political survival.”

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua said Kalonzo and Ngilu were panicking over the Machakos Senate by-election.

“They have realised that their chances are getting slim and have resulted to hauling insults to vent their anger at the DP,” Gachagua said.