The family of the late Arthur Kinyanjui Magugu, a former Finance Minister and long-serving Member of Parliament for Githunguri, is calling on President William Ruto to step in and resolve a land dispute involving an 82.4 -acre property in Muthaiga North, valued at around KSh 17 billion.
The land has been at the center of a legal battle for years. Margaret Wairimu Magugu, Arthur Magugu’s widow, and her son Steve Njoroge, who is also the family lawyer, claim that Karura Investment, a foreign company, is trying to unlawfully take over the land. The company is accused of illegally subdividing the property.
On August 5, Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled in favor of Mrs. Magugu, allowing her to join the case and involve key government officials, including the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), to investigate alleged forgeries related to the land.
This decision followed Mrs. Magugu’s argument that her rights were violated due to the inaction of the DCI and DPP on a police complaint she filed in 2018.
Despite previous efforts to resolve the issue, including an appeal to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the Magugu family has seen little progress. Mrs. Magugu has now turned to President Ruto, expressing her frustration and desperation.
Deputy President Gachagua, in a vernacular radio interview, mentioned the challenges he faced when trying to address the issue, noting that his efforts were met with accusations of tribalism.
The dispute has also drawn significant attention, from the National Land Commission and members of Parliament.
