A company owning the vast Shakahola land where hundreds of Kenyans were buried after starving to death has denied selling cult leader Paul Makenzie the parcel.
Shakama Ranching Company Limited claimed that Makenzie has never approached the directors to sell him the land.
Through lawyer Philip Kiaingi, the firm said that they were aware of the encroachment of the land by squatters, they were never aware of the activities going on in the vast land.
"My clients were not aware of any dealings where money exchanged hands for whatever reason," Kaingi said.
This even as it emerged that the shareholders are no longer in control of the property after the company was put under receivership for nonpayment of Sh15 million to a lawyer.
Kaingi appeared before the Senate's Adhoc Committee investigating the Shakahola deaths on behalf of the shareholders of the company.
Kaingi said the directors reported the encroachment to Lango Mbaya Police Station but they did not get help to remove the squatters from the land.
The company had acquired the 100-acre property but sold 50,000 to the government later.
It has been reported that Makenzie owes about 800 acres of the vast forest land.
But Kaingi said that Makenzie could have been a victim of illegal sale by squatters and other brokers.
The company, which has 50 shareholders, however, is currently under receivership after it failed to pay a lawyer Sh15 million for legal services.
The company also owes continental credit finance limited an amount of Sh44.83 million.
