Barclays denies role in transfer of 134-acre Karen land

Corporate News

A police officer keeps vigil after evicting contractors on the 134-acre land in Karen whose ownership is disputed on October 18, 2014. PHOTO | FILE 

By BRIAN WASUNA

In Summary

• The bank says it only held the land as security for a loan taken by a businessman at the centre of the saga, Horatius Da Gama Rose, and released it in 1988 after the debt was repaid in full.

Barclays Bank has denied any involvement in the alleged illicit transfer of a 134-acre piece of land in Karen whose dealings have sucked in past and present senior government officials.

The lender Wednesday told a Nairobi High Court that it only held the land as security for a loan taken by a businessman at the centre of the saga, Horatius Da Gama Rose, and released it in 1988 after the debt was repaid in full.

Barclays director of legal services Waweru Mathenge said the lender only oversaw the transfer of the land from its original owner Arnold Bradley to Mr Da Gama Rose’s father — Francis.

Barclays holds that it was the executor of Mr Bradley’s will and that it was legally transferred to Francis Da Gama Rose.

Mr Mathenge said Mr Da Gama Rose used the land as security for loans between 1983 and 1988.

He stated that there is no record to show that the land was transferred to Muchanga Investments, another firm owned by the Da Gama Rose family.

“Barclays transferred the property to Da Gama Rose Investments as executor of Mr Bradley’s estate. By January 31, 1983 the executorship had been finalised. There are no records showing that Barclays dealt with the land in regards to Habenga Holdings, Catherine Ng’ang’a or John Mugo,” he said.

READ: State official witness in Karen land case dies

Mr Da Gama Rose, former NSSF managing trustee Jos Konzolo and Carmelina Mburu, the widow of Nairobi’s first provincial commissioner are engaged in a vicious legal battle for the land, claiming ownership. Muchanga Investments, owned by Mr Da Gama Rose, filed the suit last year.

Lady Justice Lucy Gacheru summoned Barclays to explain the transfer of the property to Mr Da Gama Rose.

Justice Gacheru extended orders stopping interference with the property until October 30.