Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has been accused by Tatu City real estate investors of illegally holding five title deeds with an aim of blackmailing them to give him a stake in the multi-billion project.
According to Tatu City projects majority shareholder Stephen Jennings, Kabogo has allegedly concocted information to persuade the High Court that he is entitled to five percent of all benefits the developers will accrue from the project.
In his court papers, Jennings maintains that Kabogo is not the registered owner of Gilulu Investments and Acres and Homes which engaged with Tatu City in the project. Jennings argues that if Kabogo proves that he’s the owner of the two companies, he then should be investigated.
“If it is true, which is not admitted and denied, that it is indeed Mr Kabogo, the former governor of Kiambu County who provided the finance of the agreement to the tune of $34,485,290.40 (approximately Sh4 billion) and is the human face and force behind the agreement between Gilulu Investments and Fundamental Property, then the agreement is null and void ab initio as it is proceeds of crime and money laundering as it must have been acquired as a result of corrupt dealings during his tenure as governor of Kiambu County,” Mr Jennings said in court papers.
On his part, Kabogo has filed two cases in court arguing that he was issued title deeds for 128 acres of land estimated to cost Sh4.5 billion after he reportedly agreed to purchase an additional 100 acres from the company.
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Kabogo further claims that he paid Sh348 million to Rendeavour Services, a company associated with Jennings, as a 10% deposit for the 100 acres he had agreed to purchase.
Following payment of the deposit, the 100 acre was transferred on May 31, 2016, and the remaining balance estimated to be around Sh3.7 billion was to be paid within a year.
According to Jennings, Kabogo did not finish the payment within the required 12 months and has no basis for filing a complaint. On his part, Kabogo argues that completion of the payment was dependent on lifting of court orders that had frozen transfer of land belonging to Tatu city and its affiliate companies.
Kabogo is reported to be holding four title deeds for 105 acres of land which Tatu City wants returned to the company, arguing that the ex-governor did not rightfully acquire the said land.
“There exists a partnership agreement between the plaintiff and the 1st-4th defendants. The said partnership commenced in the year 2015 when Mr Jennings made an offer to Mr Kabogo. The offer, which Mr Kabogo accepted, was that Mr Jennings would “buy in” Mr Kabogo to Tatu City Limited. The said partnership at will has been sustained over the years by terms which are partly oral and partly written,” Mr Kabogo’s submissions were quoted by a local daily.
