You are a land grabber, furious Kalonzo tells Deputy President

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has launched a scathing attack on Deputy President William Ruto, terming him a land grabber who should be investigated for his crimes.

Kalonzo, who was responding to allegations by Ruto concerning his (Kalonzo’s) ownership of Yatta farm, cited several instances when the DP has been implicated in land grabbing across the country.

In a hard-hitting statement yesterday, the Wiper leader likened Ruto to outgoing US President Donald Trump, who is known for his disregard of the law.

“It is so sad to note that Ruto has been fomenting bitter divisions and a class war, instead of preaching unity and cohesiveness.

As a disruptor of law and order, he is easily comparable to outgoing US President Donald Trump,” said Kalonzo.

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

“The allegations made by the DP are both frivolous and unsubstantiated. They hold no water.

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

Referring to Ruto to as “Arap mashamba” a derogatory term used to describe the DP by his critics, Kalonzo defended himself against the allegations, saying he upholds the highest moral and ethical standards in all his affairs and will not allow anyone to soil it on frivolous allegations.

“I have nothing to hide and today  I challenge the authorities to open an investigation into this matter.

I am today presenting myself for a thorough investigation by the DCI as well as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

I want the matter settled once and for all. Indeed, this is the time to separate the truth from lies and malicious propaganda,” said Kalonzo, who was accompanied by Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.

He said in the same vein, Ruto should offer himself for investigations concerning a number of scandals that are in public domain.

“I demand, on behalf of Kenyans, that the DP subjects himself to a transparent lifestyle audit on all the pieces of land he owns,” he added.

But in a quick rejoinder, Ruto, through his spokesperson David Mugonyi, said the Yatta, National Youth Service (NYS) land ownership was in public domain.

“In the public interest, Kalonzo must explain how NYS land legally became his private estate,” Mugonyi said in a statement.

Ruto also sought to link the Machakos senatorial by-election, with claims that Kalonzo had panicked and does not have confidence in his candidate.

“In his panic, he has saddled himself with a ridiculous heap of bizarre allegations in pursuit of the DP,” Mugonyi wrote. 

Among the cases Kalonzo cited against the DP was the alleged grabbing of land belonging to Joseph Murumbi, Kenya’s first Vice-President and a renowned conservationist.

The attempted land grab of the Langata Road Primary School playground, where innocent children were mercilessly teargassed and traumatised.

He also wants Ruto to explain the alleged grabbing of the piece of land on which Weston Hotel on Langata road, Nairobi, is located, saying the matter is in public knowledge that the land is public property belonging to the State. The matter is in court.

Former VP further wants Ruto to explain the alleged grabbing of more than 100 acres belonging to the late Adrian Muteshi.

“Muteshi, an IDP who died out of bitterness and frustrations having fought for more than 10 years trying to reclaim his land, albeit successfully. The DP was found criminally culpable,” Kalonzo wrote.

The Wiper party boss made unsubstantiated claims that Ruto was part of a scheme to swindle Makindu Motors of millions of shillings, where a businessman lost Sh300 million due to shenanigans emanating from his office.