CS threatens to sue Thang’wa over claims of land grabbing

Lands CS Alice Wahome/Courtesy 

Lands CS Alice Wahome has threatened to sue Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thangwa for linking her to land grabbing in Ruiru.

Addressing the press on Monday at her office, Wahome said she won’t take the claims lying down.

"Karungo wa Thang'wa will meet me in court for scandalising me maliciously without any fact or evidence and I will dare him in court. When you find him, tell him we shall meet in court," Wahome said.

While speaking during a political rally in the company of the Democracy for Citizens' Party leader Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday, Thang'wa claimed the CS was working in cahoots with others to grab land in the area.

Wahome said the allegations were made by the senator on September 13 in Ruiru town.

She said the records in possession of her ministry shows that the parcel whose reference number is Ref. No. 1126/76 measures 205.0 hectares (606.6 acres) with a Survey Plan No. 240775 was registered in the name of Kangaita Coffee Estate Ltd on May 20, 2002.

“This property is for a leasehold term of 940 years, six months with effect from February 1, 1962, attracting an annual rent of Sh51,250,” Wahome said.

Wahome said the property was a subject matter in succession case H.C. Succ. case No. 1239 of 2008 at Nairobi in the matter of the estate of James Kanyotu.

She revealed that on October 7, 2009, the High Court in the said succession case issued orders restraining any dealings.

The said court order was received by the ministry under Presentation No. 574 of July 7, 2010, and was duly registered.

In another case Civil Suit No. 461 of 2012. The High Court siting in the Commercial Division issued orders lifting the orders issued in the Family Division H. Succ. Case No. 1239/2009.

This order was received under presentation number 686 of February 11, 2013.

Along with these orders was a transfer transferring the property from Kangaita Coffee Estate Ltd to TrendSetters Investment Ltd, which transfer was also received under presentation number 687 and registered.

On August 21, 2014, Trendsetters Investment Ltd transferred the Land to Marriot Africa International Ltd under Presentation Number 2631 of August 21, 2014.

Wahome said on March 29, 2015, Marriot surrendered the title to the government in consideration of sub-division and extension of use.

She said that on July 30, 2025 a decree dated July 10, 2025 in ELC Case NO. 4 of 2021 formerly ELC No. 115 of 2019 Thika High Court was issued.

“The ELC Court at Milimani issued orders cancelling and revoking the Transfer to Trendsetters Investment Ltd. Marriot International Ltd and all the resultant subdivisions, thereby restoring the land to original ownership by Kangaita Coffee Estate Ltd. This decree was received by the Nairobi Central Land Registry under presentation number 1283 of July 30, 2025. The ministry has complied with the orders of the court and cancelled and revoked the transactions as ordered details which can be read from the Decree and judgment dated, signed and delivered on July 10, 2025.”

Documents in possession of the Star shows that the directors for Trendsetters Investments limited include Jophece Yego (secretary), Aman Vyas (director), Ketankumar Raychura Vrajlal (director), Sanjay Kishorkoumar Mashru (director).

The directors for Marriott Africa international limited include Joseph John Crosby (director), Dmytro Abakumov (director), Jophece Yogo (secretary), Abdul Dawood Hassan (Director) and Min Bahadur Rawot (director).

Wahome said the allegation that the Cabinet Secretary or any other person is false, malicious and intended to bring the Cabinet Secretary to disrepute.

“It is obvious that Senator Kiambu, Karungo Thangwa picked this issue to politicise the same deliberately intending to mislead and incite the public against the government in a hopeless and cheap propaganda.”

Wahome said the land belongs to the Kanyotu family and that all the other transactions were done illegally and fraudulently.

The CS said she does not have any property in Kiambu county, adding that she once acted as a lawyer for the Kanyotu family.