Adrian Muteshi, the Man Who Sued DP William Ruto for Illegally Taking over His 100-Acre Farm, Dies

A farmer who sued Deputy President William Ruto for illegally occupying his 100-acre parcel of land in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu has died.

Adrian Muteshi passed away in Nairobi on Tuesday aged 86, according to an obituary published in a local newspaper. The obituary did not state the cause of his death. 

"It is with a deep sense of gratitude to say farewell to our beloved Adrian ...who passed away in Nairobi...funeral programmes will be announced shortly," the obituary read.

The deceased was displaced from Eldoret during the 2007/2008 post-election skirmishes and his land illegally seized.

He sued DP Ruto for unlawfully taking over the parcel of land and in 2013, the High Court ruled the land belonged to Muteshi.

As a result, Ruto was ordered to return the land and pay Sh5 million to Muteshi for illegally occupying his property.

Ruto appealed the court order to pay Sh5 million to the complainant arguing that that “his entry, possession, and ownership of the parcel was licensed by the Commissioner of Lands and the Lands Registrar.”
In 2017, DP Ruto withdrew his appeal against the High Court judgment.

Ruto through his lawyers told the court that he was an unsuspecting buyer and had conducted due diligence before purchasing it from people he believed were the owners of the property.

Muteshi leaves behind a wife, Maria Wikunza Muteshi, and six children.