Sonko Alleges Terror Links in Loresho Water Land Grab Saga

Former Governor Claims “Asian Billionaire” Sought to Poison Millions Through Reservoir

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has made explosive allegations claiming that individuals behind the attempted grab of Loresho Water Reservoir land have connections to international terror groups and harbored intentions to poison millions of Nairobians through the water supply.

In a social media post dated June 14, 2025, Sonko alleged that the mastermind behind the land grab maintains “a very strong network in Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabab” and that “his intention was and still remains to kill millions of Kenyans by poisoning the water in this reservoir.”

The land dispute

The controversy centers on a 4.9-acre parcel of land designated as Nairobi Block 90/229, which houses the Loresho Water Reservoir that supplies water to over five million Nairobi residents.

Recent court documents show this land has been the subject of multiple ownership disputes involving several high-profile figures.

According to reports, the dispute has drawn in current Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire in a complex web of competing claims.

The land, now valued at nearly Sh2 billion, has generated at least three different title deeds with various parties claiming ownership.

Recent legal victory

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) achieved a significant victory in June 2025 when the Environment and Land Court declared the subdivisions of the land null and void, stating that the property had been set aside for public utility use and earmarked for water infrastructure.

The court ruled that the land, reserved for a water reservoir and housing vital water infrastructure, was fraudulently acquired through “mere paper transactions”.

Sonko’s long-standing involvement

Sonko’s involvement in protecting the Loresho reservoir dates back to his tenure as Nairobi Senator.

In January 2019, he successfully led efforts to repossess the land after President Uhuru Kenyatta intervened.

At that time, Inspector General Joseph Boinnet ordered the arrest of anyone setting foot on the land and declared that police would not be used to protect “grabbers.”

The 2019 operation involved multiple agencies including the National Land Commission, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

The land was then placed under police guard and returned to the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company.

Terror allegations

Sonko’s latest allegations about terror connections represent a significant escalation in rhetoric around the land dispute.

His claims come with serious implications, particularly given Kenya’s ongoing security challenges with Al-Shabab and regional terror threats.

However, these allegations require careful scrutiny. Sonko himself has faced terrorism-related investigations.

In February 2021, Sonko was under probe for ‘financing terrorism and arming militia’ as part of investigations into his activities following his impeachment as Nairobi Governor.

The players in the dispute

The current legal battle involves multiple parties:

Ashok Rupshi Shah and Hitenkumar Raja: Courts have recognized their title as genuine, and they claim to have purchased the land legitimately in 2007 for Sh33 million.

Jacob Juma’s Estate: The late businessman’s widow, Miriam Juma, continues to challenge court decisions through appeals, represented by lawyer Nelson Havi.

Davis Nathan Chelogoi: The former Moi-era provincial administrator entered the dispute in 2022 with a separate title deed dated 2021. He faces six criminal counts related to the disputed land.

Governor Johnson Sakaja: Through his company Ayoti Ltd, he agreed to purchase the property from Chelogoi for over Sh900 million in April 2023, despite ongoing court disputes.

While Sonko references a “citizen weekly newspaper 9th-15th May 2025 edition,” our investigation found that the most recent major development was the EACC’s June 2025 court victory.

The Weekly Citizen newspaper has indeed covered the land recovery, focusing on the EACC’s success in reclaiming the grabbed land.

Sonko’s specific terror allegations against an “Asian billionaire tycoon” appear to reference earlier disputes involving businessman Shital Bhandari, though no verified evidence of terror connections has been presented publicly.

Current status

The EACC confirmed it has recovered public land worth over Sh400 million in Nairobi’s Loresho area, with the 4.9-acre parcel forming part of the Loresho Water Reservoir infrastructure.

Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir has expressed frustration with security agencies’ failure to fully implement eviction orders, stating that “rogue police officers” and judicial interference have complicated enforcement efforts.

Analysis

The Loresho reservoir dispute represents broader issues in Kenya’s land governance, including:

1. Fraudulent Documentation: Multiple parties producing title deeds for the same property
2. Political Interference: High-ranking officials’ involvement in land deals
3. Security of Public Utilities: The vulnerability of critical infrastructure to private interests
4. Institutional Coordination: Challenges between different government agencies

Key questions

Several critical questions remain unanswered:

1. What specific evidence supports Sonko’s terror allegations?
2. How did Governor Sakaja’s company attempt to purchase disputed land without due diligence?
3. What role did Governor Mbarire play in advocating for Chelogoi’s claims?
4. Why have security agencies struggled to implement court orders?

While the EACC’s recent legal victory represents progress in resolving the Loresho land dispute, Sonko’s explosive terror allegations add a new dimension that requires careful investigation by relevant security agencies.

The case highlights the complex intersection of land grabbing, political influence, and public utility security in Kenya.

The protection of Nairobi’s water infrastructure remains paramount, but allegations of this magnitude demand thorough investigation and evidence-based conclusions rather than speculation.

The public deserves transparency about both the land dispute’s resolution and the veracity of claims about threats to water security.

Disclaimer: These allegations by Mike Sonko require verification by appropriate security and investigative agencies. No independent evidence has been provided to substantiate claims of terror connections. All parties mentioned have the right to respond to these allegations.