Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo is entangled in Sh4.5 billion bribery lawsuit, with investors behind the Tatu City.
Investors have accused Kabogo of illegally holding onto five title deeds as part of a ploy to blackmail them into ceding a five per cent stake in a section of the multimillion-dollar project.
According to Stephen Jennings, the majority shareholder in Tatu City projects, Kabogo provided the financing of the deal in the amount of approximately Sh4 billion and is the face and human force behind the agreement between Gilulu Investments and Fundamental Property.
“…the agreement is void from the beginning as these are proceeds of crime and money laundering, as they had to be acquired as a result of corrupt treatment during his tenure as governor of Kiambu County, ”Jennings said in court papers.
Kabogo claims that he entered into a deal with the Tatu city developers through Gilulu Investments and Acres and Homes for a five percent share in a development occupying 128 acres in Tatu City.
However, Jennings argues that Kabogo does not own the two firms, and if he owns the firms he should be investigated for money laundering from Kiambu County.
He noted that Kabogo has fabricated a series of events to try to trick the Supreme Court into declaring that the politician is entitled to five per cent of any revenue developers will get of a 128 acre section of the development.
Jennings argues that there is no evidence that Kabogo would claim the five per cent stake in Tatu City, and insists that the former governor is lying to the court on how he came to possess the title deeds.
“Kabogo’s alleged ownership of the five parcels of land through what he calls ‘beneficial ownership’ is entirely without consideration. Mr Kabogo is holding Oaklands Properties’ titles as part of an extortion scheme,” Jennings said.
“ Kabogo’s entire claim is based on obvious and plain extortion and/or blackmail and is thus a criminal enterprise poorly clothed in a legal claim.”
In two lawsuits filed against Tatu City and some of its directors and sister companies, Kabogo says that they were given 128 acre property titles worth a minimum of Sh4.5 billion after agreeing to buy an additional 100 acres in the real estate firm.
On May 31, 2016, the deal for the transfer of the 100 acres was made and Kabogo was to clear the balance of Ksh3.7 billion within 12 months.
Kabogo also claims that he paid Sh348 million to Rendeavor Services, a Tatu City shareholder associated with Jennings, as a 10 per cent deposit for the 100 acres of the real estate project.
Responding to Kabogo’s claims, Jennings challenged him to provide any agreement or proof of payment of the five per cent stake in Tatu City properties.
He argues that Kabogo signed a sale agreement with Fundamental Property Limited, which insists it is an independent legal entity from Tatu City and other sister companies.
Kabogo says the completion of the purchase price was related to the lifting of court orders in other cases that froze the transfer of land from Tatu City and its sister companies.
However, Jennings argues that the deal only had a clause to pay the balance within 12 months.
According to Jennings, Kabogo did not complete the payments within twelve months and his 10 per cent deposit was refunded.
The transfer of the 100 hectares was made on 31 May 2016 and the balance of 3.7 billion euros was to be paid within 12 months.
