Kenya Stockholm Blog

Land Grabbing At Residence: Neighbor Spent Ksh 2 Million On The Deal

A Swedish neighbor of the Kenyan Ambassador to Scandinavia has told Officials of ODM-K Scandinavia that he spent more than Ksh 2 million (over 200.000 kr) in the process of acquiring a triangular piece of land that was hived from the compound of the Kenyan Ambassador to Scandinavia Mrs Purity Muhindi. The revelation came up during a tour of the residence by members of ODM-K Scandinavia and other interested Kenyans.

The neighbor said that it cost him Ksh 60.000 (6.000 kr) to pull down the old fence while it cost another Ksh 20.000 (2.000 kr) to plant small trees which marked the new boundary. Speaking to Sofia Njoroge, ODM-K Vice Treasurer who put him on the carpet, the neighbor said that the deal was sealed by Mr. Daniel Mukiri Kinyanjui, the former Ambassador, before he left for Kenya a few months ago.

When ODM-K Scandinavia team arrived at the residence, they found the iron-stripped metallic gate locked with a padlock while a car had been packed strategically to block the view of the grabbed land which could have been visible even if one was standing outside the gate.

The ODM team arrived at the residence in a convoy and when they noticed that the gate was locked, a quick decision was made that two Committee members approach the neighbor politely and request him to allow the Kenyans to view the grabbed land from his compound and take pictures.

After the Officials introduced themselves as ODM-K Scandinavia leaders and spelling out their mission, the neighbor did not just allow Kenyans to view the land but also accepted to field questions which were being asked by Ms Sofia Njoroge.

NEIGBOR’S BOAT COULD NOT DOCK PROPERLY
The neighbor said that when he accepted the deal, he did not think that it would be a very big thing. “I was coming home when I was told that the issue is now in the Internet”, he said.

“The main reason why I wanted the land is because it has been difficult for my boat to dock at the shore. Now, everything is alright”, he said. “There is nobody using the land and I thought it was OK to have it after I fixed the fence”, he added.

The neighbor said that the old fence between the residence and his villa was almost falling apart and when he was asked why he had to chip in to fix a property which belonged to a government, he said that his belief was that the Embassy had no money to invest in mending the fence.

“The fence was making the place look ugly and I just wanted something good”, he told Sofia.

By entering into a transaction that left him with a piece of land belonging to the Kenyan government, the neighbor believed that he was helping the Kenyan Ambassador to improve the beauty of the compound and that the piece of land he acquired in return was more of a “thank you” gift.

Responding to a question, the neighbor said that the transaction was not yet legal as the land office has not been informed and that he was ready to be part of a solution as long as the Kenyan Embassy could also sort out the financial aspects of the problem including a settlement of the bill for pulling down the fence which, he said, he also footed.

The neighbor, who appeared very cooperative, calm and collected, said that he also footed the bill of erecting the new wooden fence at the compound and that this bill was part of the Ksh 2 million he spent on the project. He accepted to work out a break down of what he spent in the deal if that would help solve the problem. He clarified that he discussed “everything” with the former Ambassador before embarking on the project.

After talking to the neighbor, the Kenyans walked into the neighbor’s compound to gain access to the grabbed land in order to view it and take pictures. At the moment, there is no fence between the neighbor and the residence and once one is in the neighbor’s compound, it is possible to walk into the residence without hindrance.

POLICE CALLED BY EMBASSY 
The group of Kenyans had carried a map of the compound and it was very clear that the straight boarder line shown on the map had been tampered with. Kenyans were amazed that what ODM-K Scandinavia was saying to the effect that land had been grabbed was actually true. “I did not believe that this is possible”, said Mr. Jacob Opande who was also at the scene.

Top ODM-K Scandinavia officials who led the operation were Mr. Martin Ngatia, the Vice chairperson, Mr. Dancun Munala, the Secretary, Mr. Gerry Changa Midenyo, the Treaurer, Ms Sofia Njoroge, the Vice treasurer and Mr. Jared Odero, a Committee member.  

As the ODM-K Scandinavia Officials engaged the neighbor while other Kenyans waited patiently, people who were at the residence called police and within a few minutes, two police officers arrived at the scene in one police car.

When police tried to ring the bell at the gate to find out whether there was any problem, the occupants refused to open or to show their faces. The two policemen later engaged the Kenyans in light conversations before getting into their car to relax and to watch events from a distance. When the operation was complete, the Kenyans left the scene as police also drove away.

ODM-K SCANDINAVIA TO SUE KENYA EMBASSY
After gathering evidence at the scene, ODM-K Scandinavia leadership has resolved to make an initial report to police about a “land grabbing case” if the Embassy does not take any action to try and resolve the issue.

“ODM-K Scandinavia has given the Kenyan Embassy 14 days from Monday December 4th 2006 to address the issue or face legal action”, said Mr. Dancun Munala, the Party’s secretary.

“If no action is taken by the Embassy by the 24th of December, our Party will begin the process of suing the Embassy to reclaim land which belongs to the Republic of Kenya”, Mr. Munala added.

Mr. Munala accused the Ambassador Mrs Purity Muhindi, of incompetence, cowardice and insensitivity because of her failure to address the land grabbing scandal at her residence.

“The fact that the Ambassador decided to padlock the gate and block the view of the grabbed land with a car shows that the Embassy has something to hide but it is too late because the truth is already out while ODM-K Scandinavia has the evidence”, Mr. Munala said.

“Our Party will not rest until land that belongs to the Kenyan people is returned”, he told KSB. “ODM-K Scandinavia would like the Kenyan Embassy to get the message very clearly – that this matter will not go away until it is resolved”, Mr. Munala said.

He said that the grabbed land was just the tip of an iceberg, adding that ODM-K Scandinavia is investigating cases of visa fraud, human trafficking and money laundering at the Embassy.

Okoth Osewe: makosewe@gmail.com

Related Stories:

• Evidence Shows Land At Ambassador’s residence Was Grabbed
• ODM-Scandinavia To Organize Tour Of Ambassador’s Residence
• “Investigate Kenya Embassy” – ODM Scandinavia
• Kenya Embassy Worker Fired Under Mysterious Circumstances

December 4, 2006 - Posted by makozewe | News & Analysis