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NEWS

Kimunya disowns houses deal

Story by MOSES MWATHI

Publication Date: 5/8/2007

Finance minister Amos Kimunya has denied reports that he influenced a Chinese roads contractor to put up residential houses on his farm in Kipipiri constituency.

Mr Kimunya

Mr Kimunya told his constituents to ignore reports that the contractor, who is tarmacking the 102km Njabini-Miharati-Ol-Kalou road, had built houses for the company’s staff on his land.

A certificate of official Search No. 336 the Nation obtained from the Ministry of Lands offices indicates that House of Muhinga owns the 10-acre piece of land near Miharati Township.

Muhinga is Minister Kimunya’s middle name.

The minister said that the contractor, China Wui, was free to engage in any kind of construction work, regardless of whether it was for the Government or individuals.

“The contractor is free to enter into any agreement with a private developer. This was applied in this deal between him and Kipipiri Foods Limited, which is currently utilising my land in Miharati,” the minister told journalists at Ndemi trading centre in his constituency at the weekend.

He had addressed a Narc Kenya public rally in the area.

The minister denied claims that he was linked to the company.

Journalists visited the farm and observed some well-furnished residential houses and other incomplete storey buildings.

Mr Kimunya said the contractor had built eight houses for Kipipiri Foods Limited. The company is putting up a food processing factory in the farm.

The minister said Kipipiri Foods would be processing over 500 tonnes of fresh vegetables for export every year.

When asked about his role in the company, the minister said he was just a promoter.

He added that he had given the idea of forming such a company to a group of professionals, who included his younger brother, Mr George Kimunya.

The younger Kimunya told the Nation that the firm was a family business, adding that they had leased out part of the land to the contractor to build houses.

The contractor, he said, would vacate the houses after completing the road project.

An area resident, Mr Peter Muthee, asked the Government to investigate the deal to find out if the contractor had been compromised.

But the minister told journalists: “I’m telling you this is a clean contract involving two private companies. Go and find out the truth from the contractor.”