Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary (CS) Florence Bore is engaged in an apparent blame game with Gatanga MP Edward Muriu over the ownership of a home in Karen, Nairobi.
The tussle began on Saturday morning when MP Muriu accused CS Bore of forcibly occupying the house that he is selling at Amara Ridge.
Mary Muriu, the house owner, claimed that CS Bore made an offer of Sh90 million for the house, but she and her husband had said the final asking price was Sh120 million.
In her response on Sunday, CS Bore dismissed MP Muriu’s claims, stating that she signed her part of the agreement for the sale and submitted the agreement to the MP’s lawyers to sign on their part.
She went on to note that she paid 10 percent of the agreed amount, which warranted her occupation of the property, and the remaining amount was to be paid in 90 days.
“In compliance with the respective clauses of the agreement, I sourced a 10 percent deposit from my Sacco and paid directly to the Vendor’s lawyers’ account via RTGS,” read part of her rebuttal.
“We agreed that I take occupation of the house while I retreated to seek a mortgage facility for the balance, which I legitimately expected to obtain within the agreed transaction period of 90 days.””
CS Bore stated that MP Muriu breached the agreement and tried to evict her children from the property just 30 days into the agreement.
“Unfortunately, in an astounding weave of events, in less than 30 days of the agreement, Hon. Edward Muriu and his wife attempted to unlawfully evict my children from the house while I was out of the Country. They were accompanied by armed goons necessitating the need for police presence in the premises,” she said.
She described the allegations as “fabricated to unlawfully dissociate from the agreement ostensibly because they have found a “better deal”.
“The transaction was a private engagement between a willing seller and a willing buyer, both parties duly represented by lawyers in total conformity with the law. The media pitch was therefore unwarranted and ancillary to the transaction.”
In a swift rebuttal, MP Muriu said that CS Bore is trying to use her leadership muscle to forcefully occupy his property.
“CS Bore is using her position as CS to criminally occupy my house and use police force to continue with occupation. Its criminal use of state force and abuse of office contrary to Chapter 6 of Our Constitution,” read part of his statement.
MP Muriu further denied claims that there was a sale agreement, daring CS Bore to present the statement she is alluding to.
“I have never signed a sale agreement with CS Bore and if she has one, let her table it. Deposit is paid after signing the sale agreement. Let her table the payment receipt,” he said.
“A signed sale agreement expresses the meeting of the minds of both the seller and the buyer and in its absence, any expressions outside the same falls into abyss.”
MP Muriu also stated that the property’s keys are still in his custody, further raising questions on how CS Bore got access to the house.
“I still hold all the keys to the house. We got a shock on 14th June, when our staff reported to clean up the house and mow the grass to find the house occupied.
CS Bore has never called me or even texted me back since she occupied the house,” he noted.
The Gatanga MP, therefore, demands that CS Bore vacates the property, maintaining that he does not have any money transacted and he will not be selling the property.
“I am not holding any money, I am not selling the house neither am I renting the same. It’s only fair and reasonable for the CS to vacate my house forthwith, save the Kenya Kwanza government unnecessary embarrassment and allow the leaders to discuss important matters relating to delivering Kenya Kwanza Promises to our People.”
