Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has dismissed president William Ruto’s claims that he grabbed land belonging to the National Youth Service, NYS, in Yatta, Machakos county, saying the allegations are false, politically motivated and contradicted by official records.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Kalonzo said the land in question was legally acquired through a private transaction and did not belong to the NYS.
He presented what he described as documentary evidence, including land records, court rulings, transaction documents and an official letter from the National Youth Service.
According to Kalonzo, the NYS letter confirms that the parcel does not belong to the service but to the original allottee named in Letter of Allotment Ref. No. 14308/111. He said the original allottee later sold the land to him through a lawful process.
The former vice president accused Ruto of using the land issue to mislead Kenyans and divert attention from broader questions about integrity in public office.
“This was a legal transaction,” Kalonzo said, adding that public debate on land ownership should be guided by records, court decisions and verified documents rather than political rhetoric.
He said the renewed claims were part of what he termed a deliberate campaign to damage his reputation. He argued that the same allegations had been raised before and challenged president Ruto to present evidence if he believed any illegality had occurred.
Kalonzo said public leaders have a duty to speak truthfully, especially on sensitive matters involving land, which remains one of Kenya’s most emotive issues.
He then turned the criticism back on the president, challenging him to publicly explain several properties and land transactions that have previously attracted public scrutiny.
Kalonzo cited Weston Hotel, the disputed Murumbi land in Narok, the Adrian Muteshi land case and a large parcel in Taveta, where he claimed residents had faced displacement. He said Kenyans deserved clear answers on how such properties were acquired and whether public interest had been protected.
On the Adrian Muteshi matter, Kalonzo referred to the court case in which adverse civil findings were made over the 100-acre land dispute. He said the matter remained relevant in national conversations about leadership, property ownership and accountability.
Kalonzo also revived the political nickname ‘Arap Mashamba,’ which critics have used against Ruto over land-related controversies, saying the president should be ready to answer the same questions he directs at others.
The Wiper leader further called for a comprehensive public audit of assets linked to the presidency and senior public officials. He said such an audit would help restore confidence in public institutions and address long-standing concerns over the accumulation of unexplained wealth by leaders.
“The era of unchecked accumulation of wealth and looting of public resources must come to an end,” he said.
Kalonzo maintained that leadership must be anchored on integrity, truth and accountability to the people of Kenya.
The latest exchange is set to intensify political debate between the government and opposition, with land ownership, corruption and integrity emerging as central themes in the country’s current political discourse.
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