Controversy surrounding the ownership of Ruaraka land has taken a different tangent after companies and individuals involved took to the courts to gag media, social media users and companies.
The pieces of land in question and before investigations by various agencies including the Senate and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission involves the acquisition of 13.5-acre land — LR No. 7879/4 — in Ruaraka for the two schools — Ruaraka High School and Drive-In Primary School. The acquisition included paying Sh3.3 billion to Afrison Exports and Imports Ltd and Huelands Ltd — two companies owned by businessman Francis Mburu — which claim ownership of the land.
Already, Lands Cabinet Secretary Farida Karoney told Parliament that the allotment letter issued to the school 34 years ago was irregular. The ealier purchase to Mburu and his companies had been approved last year by then Education CS Fred Matiang’I when he authorized the National Land Commission to acquire the land.
Now Afrison Exports and Imports Ltd, Whispering Palms Estate Ltd and Huelands Ltd have gone to court to gag Nation Media Group, blogger Cyprian Nyakundi and lawyer Apollo Mboya. The companies associated with Francis Mburu have all gone before Justice Sergon to gag them and their associates from publishing in their digital assets and anywhere else, about the ongoing probe.
In a surprising move, the Judge also gave the orders against Twitter, Google, Facebook and YouTube stating that they all should be served with the orders.
Daily Nation order
Cyprian Nyakundi supporting affidavit
Apollo Mboya and Meschack Onyango order
It is this same land controversy that got blogger Nyakundi arrested, detained and later released through an order from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji.
All the gagging orders were issued by Justice Joseph Kiplagat Sergon.