Sammy Koech, former Konoin MP who now lives a quiet life, oscillating between his native Kericho home and Nairobi, lived big and spent lavishly.
He is the Director at Sun Vally Housing.
Sun valley includes Sun Valley Estate Phase I, Sun Valley Phase II and Sun Valley Phase III.
The estates occupy at least 130 acres and houses at least 2000 families.
According to media reports, the process of excising part of the land where the Lang’ata residential estates stand began in 1997 when Environment and Natural Resources Minister Henry Kosgey published a notice to set aside 53.68ha (about 130 acres) on December 22.
The land was indicated as L.R. No. 23256.
On March 23, 1998, Kosgey’s successor Francis Lotodo de-gazetted the alteration of Ngong Forest land to give it legal status.
It is at this stage that Part of the land was allegedly sold to Sun Valley Housing.
Sun Valley then subdivided the land and sold it to various individuals, including senior civil servants.
Koech who reportedly never uttered a word in Parliament had a knack of dishing out money-the Moi style-to people he knew and those he had met on few occasions.
Those who know him said the ever neatly dressed man kept wads of different denominations of money in different pockets of his jackets and could dish big amounts depending on who the person was in the society.
Sources said even his colleagues could wait for hours- waiting for him to arrive at a place they had agreed to meet or joints-high end clubs and hotels-to get a slice of the cash.
As they waited, they drank and ate on his bill.
During the 2013 general election, it is said, he bankrolled political campaigns for most aspirants in Kericho and Bomet Counties.
Bartenders of pubs he frequented liked to say he never disputed bills and could leave behind good money in tips for services rendered.
His friends say he was allergic to crowds and used his money to get elected.
The shy and soft speaking “Sam” as he was known, drank expensive beverages in the market.
He owns several guzzling vehicles including Mercedes, BMW, and the latest makes of Toyota 4×4.
Several companies he owns are said to be doing business with Kericho and Bomet counties.
Speaking last Friday at the Miotoni block of Ngong Forest when he received infrastructural support for the Green Zones II project, Environment CS Keriako Tobiko said they would reclaim more than 6,000 acres that had been grabbed.
“Except the areas that were lawfully de-gazetted, all the other parcels of this forest, whether people have titles or not, whether they have built structures for business or residential houses, will be reclaimed,” he warned.
Other estates to be demolished are KMA Lang’ata estate, Lang’ata Place, Lang’ata View Apartments, Royal Park, Forest View, Shalom estate, and St Mary’s Apartment.
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