The NLC is investigating how the Weston Hotel, owned by Deputy President William Ruto, acquired a land next to Wilson Airport claimed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
National Land Commission CEO Tom Chavangi told the Star the commission has started investigations into the alleged landgrabbing but declined to elaborate.
“The issue of the Weston Hotel is within the ambit of the commission now and I cannot divulge any information until the process is over,” he said on Wednesday.
KCAA requested the Lands agency to probe the acquisition.
The five-star, 120-bed hotel is built on land where strategic equipment for air navigation is located.
After a long silence, DP Ruto admitted owning the hotel on December 31 last.
The KCAA had on February 29 last year written to the commission, seeking the its assistance to repossess the land.
“We lodged a formal complaint requesting your commission’s intervention to facilitate issuing of title documents for KCAA properties by commencing investigations to establish legality of all grants in respect of KCAA parcels of land, with a view to revoking any illegal allocations,” KCAA’s letter to the Lands agency reads.
Chavangi said the commission could compel developers who have built on grabbed land to compensate owners.
“But there cannot be any negotiations when it comes to public land,” he said. This means Weston hotel risks being demolished without compensation.
Ruto admitted to owning the Weston Hotel, months after his close ally Patrick Osero and his lawyer denied he holds any stake. Osero said he owned the hotel with two others, but denied Ruto was one of them.