Senior Land Officials Implicated in Sh1 Billion Fraudulent Land Deal

Ten individuals including senior land officials have been charged in connection with a staggering Sh1 billion fraudulent land deal in Nairobi.

The case revolves around a prime parcel of land valued at an astounding Sh1 billion, allegedly the target of a fraudulent transfer scheme. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), an extensive and long-running investigation has uncovered a conspiracy among the ten suspects to defraud Realty Brokers Limited. The alleged deception involved using a doctored allotment letter from the National Land Commission (NLC) which was falsely issued in the name of Mwadi Women Entrepreneurs Limited.

Among the key players implicated in this alleged scheme are Jacob Cartwright Owino, the Registrar of Titles at Ardhi House, and Land Administration officer Andrew Aseri Kirungu. The other individuals charged in connection with the conspiracy include Diana Njeri Muiyuro, James Mbote Gicheha, Joseph Njoroge Kimani, Joseph Gichohi Kinyanjui, Gladys Wambui Mwangi, Mohamed Jimale Abdille, Charles Mwangi Waithaka, and George Ndungu Mumbi. Central to the alleged fraud was the presentation of a bogus allotment letter, bearing the reference number 93103 which was purportedly issued by the NLC.

This fraudulent document was instrumental in facilitating the registration of the land in the name of Mwadi Women Entrepreneurs Limited. However, the nefarious deal was thwarted during the course of the investigation. Nine of the suspects appeared before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges levelled against them. They were subsequently granted release on a cash bail of Sh100,000 each. Regrettably, one of the suspects failed to appear in court, citing illness as the reason for their absence.

The DCI’s Land Fraud Investigation Unit plays a vital role in safeguarding the integrity of property rights, ensuring economic stability, and maintaining public trust in land-related transactions. The unit remains ever-vigilant in its efforts to prevent and combat fraudulent activities, particularly those involving government officials and unscrupulous individuals who seek to exploit the system for personal gain.