Murkomen denies links to Sh20bn Runda land dispute

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has denied any involvement in a multi-billion-shilling land dispute in the upscale Runda area of Kiambu county.

The CS dismissed allegations linking him to the controversial property as baseless and malicious.

In a statement, Murkomen said his attention had been drawn to what he termed as “wild and false allegations” circulating in a section of the media, which purported to implicate him in the long-running dispute.

“We condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the publication of the false story, which is based on rumour, conjecture and wild allegations,” he said.

The CS said he has no personal or professional connection to the disputed parcel of land, said to measure about 300 acres and estimated to be worth about Sh20 billion.

“The cabinet secretary does not have an iota of personal interest in the property. In fact, he has no knowledge of the purported land, its location or the presence of a land dispute,” the statement said.

Murkomen also addressed claims suggesting that he had used his office to influence police operations in the matter, particularly allegations that security officers had been deployed to protect individuals accused of invading the land.

“The cabinet secretary does not carry out police patrols as purported by the petitioner. The fact that police officers may, by the very nature of their work, get involved in land issues anywhere in the country does not, in any way, mean the Cabinet Secretary is interested in any of those properties,” he stated.

He further clarified the limits of his authority over the police service, noting that operational decisions are not within his direct control.

“The cabinet secretary, by law and in fact, does not direct police in their day-to-day work. He only issues general policy guidelines which he does publicly, and in writing, through the Inspector General of Police,” Murkomen said.

He urged investigative agencies to act swiftly to establish the truth and safeguard legitimate landowners.

“The cabinet secretary urges the Inspector General and the investigative authorities to move with speed to address this matter and protect the interest of genuine land owners in this case and across the country,” the statement said.

The controversy stems from a report published by Daily Nation, which detailed a protracted family dispute over the prime land in Runda. The report alleged that Murkomen, alongside three other individuals, had been mentioned in claims of shielding persons accused of illegally occupying the land.

Petitioners in the case claim that more than 200 individuals have taken over the property, allegedly with the backing of powerful figures and elements within the security services. They further accused police officers based in Kiambu of being compromised and failing to act on formal complaints lodged over the matter.