Mburu now wants Ksh37 billion from the Kenyan Govt.

Nairobi businessman Francis Mburu has sued the Kenyan Government, seeking compensation amounting to at least Ksh37 billion over the disputed Ruaraka land.

Mburu moved to the Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, where he filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General, National Land Commission and the Nairobi County Government.

Mburu argues that the current market price for “his land” in Ruaraka is Ksh25 billion, but wants a further Ksh13.6 billion “in compensation for loss of rent and the accrued interest over time”.

The tycoon alleged that Ruaraka High School and Drive Inn Primary School have not paid rent to him for 34 years now. Mburu says the rent arrears have accrued to Ksh5.9 billion.

He further says the Continental Credit Finance Limited (CCFL) is the custodian of the property.  

The contested Ruaraka property is occupied by the Ruaraka High school, Drive Inn Primary School and the GSU camp next to the Kenya School of Monetary Studies. 

On June 28, 2019, the High Court in Nairobi ruled that the disputed Ruaraka land, on which the two schools sit, belongs to the State.

Mburu, who appealed against the ruling, says he “suffered great losses and irreparable damage, which should be compensated”.

The businessman says the government has “forcefully occupied the land” and brought in construction equipment.

Mburu says that in the year 2000, when the ownership of the land was being contested in court, Office of the President still paid land rates.

Currently, a section of the land is being used in the ongoing expansion of the Outering Road.

In 2017, the State compulsorily acquired 13.5 acres of the land for the two schools at an agreed cost of Ksh3.2 billion. Mburu already received Ksh1.2 billion, and was waiting to be paid the remaining Ksh2 billion.

Following the partial payment of the compensation, Mburu claims various accusations were leveled against him.

The initial size of the land was 96 acres, and Mburu claims he acquired it in 1981 from Joreth Limited.

Mburu said he entered into an agreement with the Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation to build 1, 200 mansionettes on the land. CCFL was to finance the project to the tune of Ksh160 million.

Out of the projected 1, 200 structures, only 196 units were completed. These 196, which house GSU officers, Mburu says, were built on un-surveyed plot measuring 7.5 acres.

The lawsuit filed by the tycoon is yet to be assigned to any magistrate or judge.

The court is expected to give directions on Mburu’s application on Friday, August 30.