Swazuri insists Ruaraka land is private

The Ruaraka land is privately owned by businessman Francis Mburu, National Lands Commission (NLC) chairman Muhammad Swazuri has said.

Mr. Mburu was on Wednesday morning arrested but it is not yet clear on what grounds.

Also Read: Businessman Francis Mburu in Ruaraka land saga arrested

“According to paragraph 21 and 22 of the report, the land is private. Parliament has today declared the land as private as has the Ministry of Education,” Swazuri said.

Speaking to journalists at Ardhi House on Wednesday, a defiant Swazuri also maintained that neither he nor members of the Lands Commission would step down over the saga.

“Some of you are expecting us to resign but we are here to do our work. It is only cowards who resign. I am here to stay and no one can make me do otherwise,” he said.

Mr. Francis Mburu had earlier vowed to sue the government over claims of dues owed to him as the rightful owner.

Ruaraka Secondary and Drive Inn Primary schools are built on the controversial land with Mr. Mburu sayng he could have evicted the pupils but he “cares for them.”

On Wednesday, Swazuri raised queries over why the commission should be faulted over the land saga.

“What is wrong with the commission prescribing the necessary legislation for land acquisition since the land has been confirmed as private? What mistake has this commission done?”

The chairman also chastised the media over their coverage of the issue accusing the Fourth Estate of taking part in a ‘witch hunt’.

“You are busy writing out there and none of you has come for facts from us. You have made us celebrities but in the wrong way,” he lamented.

“If anybody has queries, we are a public body. We are not supposed to hide information; so come for that information,” Swazuri added.

Swazuri further reiterated that the Lands Commission would continue to carry out its mandate.

“Our ongoing projects will not be stopped by media intimidation. We are doing eleven compulsory projects across the country to support President’s Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda and vision 2030.”