Raila Wants Ruto's 2,500-Acre Ranch in Taita Taveta Surrendered to Gov’t

Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition party presidential candidate Raila Odinga says Deputy President William Ruto should surrender his ranch in Taita Taveta County to the government.

Speaking during a campaign tour of Taita Taveta County on Tuesday, Odinga said the acquisition of the 2,536-acre Mata farm by Ruto was questionable and should be surrendered to the government for distribution to squatters.

“Juzi anasema ati bwana Criticos alikuwa na shida kwa upande wa ushuru nikaenda nikasaidia yeye, akanipatia ka-shamba 2,500 acres…na hapa kuna watu ambao ni landless wengi zaidi, mbona hakununua hiyo shamba apatie hawa wenyeji wa hapa?” Odinga posed.

In May, the deputy president addressed the controversies surrounding the ownership of the property, insisting that he acquired the ranch legally.

Ruto, who will face off Odinga in the August 9th presidential contest, revealed that former Taveta MP Basil Criticos gifted him the vast land after he helped him offset a loan he owed the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC).

“You know even me am an elder in Mata. The Former MP Basil Criticos shared with me a small chunk of the land after I helped him offset a loan at Agricultural Finance Corporation,” Ruto said.

He urged Taita Taveta residents to support his presidential bid as he is now a resident of the county by virtue of owning the land.

“I want to ask you people of Taita-Taveta will you now refuse to vote for me, and you clearly now know am a resident here,” said Ruto.

Ruto grows maize and rears cattle at the farm that borders the vast Criticos ranch and Lake Jipe to the South.