NAKURU, Kenya — Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested two men accused of fraudulently acquiring a 4,296-acre parcel of land valued at Sh5 billion in Mau Narok, Njoro Sub-County, in one of the region’s largest land fraud cases.
The suspects — Josphat Munke Ole Mpoe and Joseph Kakore Ole Mpoe — were arraigned before the Nakuru Chief Magistrate’s Court after investigators established that they had attempted to take over land lawfully owned by a private buyer who purchased it from Class Kenya Farming Limited Settlement Fund Trustees in 1977.
According to investigators from the Land Fraud Investigations Unit (LFIU), the land was legally bought for Sh5 million under an agreement dated June 13, 1977, drawn up by T.K. Patel.
However, the two brothers claimed the property belonged to their late father, Kikenyi Ole Mpoe, relying on what detectives later confirmed to be a forged title grant.
The case had been entangled in court battles for years, with the brothers attempting to assert ownership using false documentation. In March 2023, the two obtained Limited Grant Letters of Administration from the High Court in Nakuru, allegedly to give legal weight to their claim.
However, investigations revealed that the two were former farm managers on the land and had no ownership rights. Detectives established that the title documents they relied on were entirely fabricated.
Following the investigations, the case was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved multiple charges against the suspects.
They were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, forcible detainer, giving false information to a public servant, and false swearing.
The two pleaded not guilty and were released on a Sh2 million bond each with a similar surety or Sh1 million cash bail.
The DCI said the arrest reflects its commitment to protecting property rights and dismantling criminal networks targeting high-value land.
