Ruto’s Weston Hotel Refuses To Vacate Lang’ata land, Accuses KCAA Of Ulterior Motives

Management at Weston hotel have sworn not to vacate the piece of land it stands on along Lang’ata Road in Nairobi County. In response to a petition filed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the hotel said it had  paid to acquire the plot of land so it cannot be forced to vacate, management added they did due diligence before purchasing the property and confirmed sanctity of the title.

The hotel’s management said it purchased the property from Priority Limited and Monene Investment Limited and that the title cannot be revoked as urged by the KCAA.

Weston has accused KCAA of ulterior motives, especially after the National Land Commission found the title was not acquired fraudulently. Weston  recently voluntarily vacated a site near Wilson Airport for the agency.

“Consequently, the allegation of fraudulent acquisition and registration are unsubstantiated and nothing short of mere rumours propagated by the petitioner in a resort to infringe, violate and limit Weston’s right to property.” General Manager Michael Nzile speaking for Weston.

In his affidavit, Nzile urged the court to dismiss KCAA’s petition, saying it does not meet the required threshold for granting conservatory orders. He further asked the court to uphold the sanctity of the hotels title.

KCAA argues that Priority and Monene sold the land to Weston Hotel Limited in June 2007 at a “deliberately undervalued” price of Sh10 million. The agency then claims the two firms then embarked on rapid construction without obtaining mandatory development approvals from relevant State regulatory agencies.

“They procured registration as owners of the land through illegality, fraud and corruption and forcibly evicted the DCA and its employees. They forcibly removed the DCA’s costly air navigation equipment and spares and dumped them at sites in Industrial Area and Athi River, causing their degradation from harsh exposure to the elements,” the petition by KCAA stated.

Weston has maintained that no evidence was placed before the NLC to show it was reckless in purchasing the suit property or that building approvals were not issued.

KCAA further said Weston deliberately failed to comply with orders to stop construction, despite clear indications that the development posed a threat to air navigation at the adjacent Wilson Airport.