Former President Moi Ordered to Pay Sh1 Billion to Widow for Grabbing Her Land

An Eldoret court has ordered former President Daniel Arap Moi to pay an 81-year-old woman and her son Sh1.06 billion for grabbing their land.

The ruling was made on Thursday by Lands and Employment Court Judge Antony Ombwayo in a case where Susan Cheburet Chelugui and her son David Chelugui sued Moi for illegally taking away their land.

"…Acquisition of the said properties by the 1st and 2nd respondents were arbitrary unconstitutional, irregular, procedural, tainted, a nullity ab initio and therefore not worthy of any constitutional protection,” the judge has ruled.

Susan and her son asked the court to compel Moi to return a 53-acre piece of land located in Eldoret Municipality.

Susan said Moi transferred the family land to himself on March 2nd, 2007; two years after the death of her husband, Noah Chelugui. Noah Chelugui served as chief during Moi’s administration.

The judge has noted that the amount is a commensurate compensation to the petitioners for the loss of their property through an unprocedural scheme.

“The 1st and 2nd respondents do pay and are hereby ordered to pay the estate of the Late Noah K. Chelugui the prompt payment in full of just and current market value of the said properties….,” adds the judge.

The ruling comes weeks after the same judge ordered Moi and the late Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwott to return five irregularly acquired parcels of land in Eldoret Town.

Justice Ombwayo ruled that the five plots were public property.