NAIROBI, Kenya- Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a couple accused of orchestrating an alleged land fraud scheme involving an 8.35-acre parcel along Old Mombasa Road in Nairobi.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the DCI said the investigation was launched after a complainant reported attempts to fraudulently claim ownership of the land, which is legally registered in his name.
According to investigators, the probe established that Daimler Enterprises Limited had laid claim to the same property despite records showing the complainant as the lawful owner.
The DCI said investigations, backed by verification from the Ministry of Lands, confirmed that the land belongs to the complainant.
Detectives further established that the company’s claim was allegedly based on a falsified grant and a forged title deed, which investigators believe were used in an attempt to unlawfully acquire the property.
Following the completion of investigations, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which directed that the company’s directors, John Mugo Njeru and Irima Mugo, be charged.
The two suspects face multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud, uttering a false document, and obtaining registration by false pretences, among other offences.
The DCI said the couple was arrested on Tuesday and is being processed ahead of their arraignment in court.
The agency reiterated its commitment to combating land fraud, saying it would continue pursuing individuals involved in forging land documents, manipulating land records and attempting to dispossess legitimate property owners.
Land fraud remains one of Kenya’s most persistent economic crimes, with disputes involving forged titles, fraudulent transfers and double allocation of land continuing to account for a significant number of complaints investigated by the DCI and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Authorities have repeatedly urged land buyers to conduct due diligence and verify ownership records through the Ministry of Lands before completing property transactions.