Big Win For Pensioners as KRC Signs Consent To Withdraw Case

Samuel GitongaJul 10, 20201 Mins read2.2k

Judge gavel and scale in court. The High Court has ruled the Tax Appeals Tribunal cannot stay its own proceedings.

Pensioners at the Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefit Scheme (KRSRBS) can temporarily breathe a sigh of relief after they signed consents with Edermann Properties, a real estate firm to rubber stamp their commitment of settling their land dispute outside court.

According to sources who attended the meeting yesterday at Railways Headquarters on Wednesday, top officials of KRSRBS agreed to withdraw a suit they had in court.

“We are very happy today that we have signed these consent documents and by the course of the week we will be presenting them in court for approval”, a source who attended the meeting intimated to the press

A few days ago, the two opted for arbitration as an alternative method to solve the dispute which has lasted in court for over 10 years.

The two, have been embroiled in a court battle since 2009 after Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) and Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefit Scheme KRSRBS with each claiming ownership of parcels of land in Makongeni Estate, Nairobi Railways Club, Kindaruma road and Kenya Railways Golf Club.

“As EPL we felt we could be wrongly accused of contributing to the suffering of many pensioners yet our business in Kenya has been one to promote the lives of Kenyans as per our vision and mission, “a statement from Edermann reads.

The property company also withdrew its claim of Sh 26 Billion which they were awarded by the court in 2009 after KRC failed to meet their end of bargain for the property.

” We are very happy and we feel relieved after a protracted court battle which has lasted in court for many years. We are looking forward for more fruitful deliberations,” said Head of planning Kenya Railways Corporation John Rajwayi.

Erdemann had gone to Court after Kenya Railways and Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefit Scheme KRC/KRSRBS started selling land that Erdemann had tendered and won and was ready to put in an investment of over KShs. 40Billion together with its partners.

In 2012, The High Court stopped the auctioning of property worth billions of shillings belonging to the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) over a dispute with the real estate firm.

High Court Judge Alfred Mabeya suspended orders obtained by the private firm to attach Kenya Railways property over an alleged breach of contract.