Kenya Kwanza alliance presidential flag bearer William Ruto has come out to defend how he acquired massive land in Taita Taveta County, where many residents are landless.
The 2022 presidential front runner has been repeatedly accused by his critics of irregularly owning the 2,536-acre Mata Farm.
But Speaking at Lumo Wildlife Sanctuary on Tuesday, May 24, during a Kenya Kwanza economic forum, the DP said he is the genuine owner of the land in question having bought it from the legitimate owner.
The Kenya Kwanza alliance presidential flag bearer revealed that he acquired the land after he helped former Taveta MP Basil Criticos to offset a loan he owed the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC).
“I am also a Mata elder because I helped the former Taveta MP to settle his loan at AFC and he gave me a portion of land,” he said.
The issue of historical land injustices has always been a talking point for the coastal region during each election period.
The second in command urged the Taita-Taveta voters to support his presidential bid as he is a resident of the county by owning the land.
Recently the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga announced that he will appoint the Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho Cabinet Secretary in charge of land if he wins the August polls.
But Kenya Kwanza alliance brigade has taken issue with Raila’s plan of solving coastal land issues saying, their problems cannot be sorted through the appointment of a coastal leader.
“The land issue is not about picking a Coast leader to be Cabinet Secretary for Lands, we have had several people from this area in the same docket but lack of goodwill and policies are the ones needed,” Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi said yesterday.
