Deputy President William Ruto Has Zero Shares in Airgate Mall, Owner Ramesh Gorasia Says

The proprietor of the controversial Nairobi's Taj Mall which has since rebranded to Airgate Mall, Ramesh Gorasia has finally responded to claims that Deputy President William Ruto has shares in the shopping complex. 

Gorasia, a former Nairobi Senatorial aspirant, dismissed reports that Ruto has stakes in the building, adding that he is the sole owner of the Mall located along Outer Ring Road 

Ramesh says he is ready to make public the title for the land where the structure stands to prove that the Deputy President has no links to the shopping complex.

“Ruto has zero shares. I can show you the title. I’m the owner of Taj Mall,” he told The Star.

The shopping mall is said to built on a road reserve and was the subject of a protracted court tussle during construction of Outer Ring road.

The billionaire said he legally acquired the 1.75 acres land where the mall stands in 1991 and a further two acres in 1995 in Embakasi from Abuja Limited.

Last year, National Lands Commission [NLC] said the government acquired the contested land for road expansion in 1960s through compulsory acquisition.

“Before demolitions, the state should arrest and charge people who approved construction of the buildings. Those who issued the title deeds should be responsible."

"If a mistake has been done, let them divert the river, instead of demolishing a building worth billions that authorities have approved,” Ramesh stated in an apparent support of Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu's remarks last weekend.

The mall is said to be among buildings earmarked for demolition for sitting on a road reserve.