Ruto-Linked Firm Regains Ownership of 1,643-Acre Ruai Land

Renton Company, a firm with reported ties to President William Ruto, has regained temporary control of a contested 1,643-acre parcel of land in Ruai, Nairobi. 

The Court of Appeal overturned a previous High Court ruling that had invalidated Renton's ownership and awarded the land to squatters, plunging the long-standing legal dispute into further uncertainty. The appellate court's decision suspends the High Court's October 2024 judgment, which had deemed Renton's title illegitimate due to irregularities in its acquisition. The High Court had sided with the Kamunyonge Gatwoto self-help group and other individuals, recognizing them as the rightful owners and raising hopes for resettlement.

However, Renton successfully argued that executing the High Court's decree would result in substantial losses. On Wednesday, Justice Anne Abongo Omollo of the Environment and Lands Court issued a temporary order allowing Renton to maintain control of the property and preventing squatters from occupying the land. The suspension of the earlier judgment is slated to last 18 months, pending the final determination of the appeal. 

The disputed land, estimated to be worth Sh13 billion, has been a source of contention for years. In 2020, under the administration of then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, part of the land was seized for the Dandora Waste Water Treatment Plant, designated as a protected public utility area. This decision was reversed in 2023 when a gazette notice signed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki privatized the property. 

Renton's ownership structure has been a subject of intense scrutiny, with records at the company's registry and the Business Registration Service portal failing to provide clarity on the firm's directors. Key files have reportedly been missing for years, fueling speculation about the true beneficiaries of the land. Despite the lack of transparency, past investigations and public statements have linked the land to both President Ruto and former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo. 

The controversy dates back to 2014 when a Nairobi County Assembly probe sought to reclaim over 4,000 acres, including Renton's property. During the assembly proceedings, Majority Leader Elias Otieno openly alleged that the disputed land was owned by Ruto, who was then Deputy President, and Jirongo, a former politician associated with the YK92 political lobby group. The company's legal representation has also undergone changes, with affidavits in six separate cases signed by different individuals over the years. In the current appeal, affidavits were sworn by Juliet Mukami Theuri. 

The latest court decision carries significant implications for both Renton and the thousands of squatters who were awaiting resettlement. While the squatters' hopes have been temporarily dashed, the court's acknowledgement of Renton's ongoing physical possession and holding of the disputed title suggests a protracted legal battle ahead. The Nairobi County Government, previously tasked with facilitating the squatters' resettlement, now faces an uncertain path in executing the High Court's original orders.