NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Mathioya Member of Parliament Francis Njakwe Githiari has been arrested over allegations of defrauding a couple of Sh.6.4 million in a land transaction linked to a proposed housing project in Ngong.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), detectives from the Land Fraud Investigation Unit apprehended Githiari on Thursday following investigations into claims that he obtained money from the complainants under false pretences.
Investigators said the couple had entered into an agreement with the former legislator for the purchase of land in Ngong, where a double-storey residential house was to be constructed.
Detectives alleged that Githiari presented himself as both the seller of the property and the contractor responsible for overseeing the construction project.
According to investigators, the agreement placed the total cost of the land and construction project at Sh.40 million, payable in instalments. The complainants are said to have transferred Sh.6.4 million to Githiari as part of the arrangement.
The DCI said investigators gathered sufficient evidence linking the former MP to the alleged fraud before forwarding a duplicate police case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review.
“Upon review, the ODPP agreed with the investigating officer’s recommendation to charge Githiari with the offence of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code,” the DCI said in a statement.
Authorities confirmed that Githiari was arrested at his residence in Karen and is expected to be arraigned in court on Friday, May 15, 2026.
The case adds to growing concerns over land-related fraud cases in Kenya, where disputes involving fake title deeds, fraudulent property sales, and uncompleted construction projects continue to generate significant financial losses for buyers and investors.
Land fraud remains one of the most common forms of economic crime investigated by Kenyan authorities, particularly in rapidly expanding urban and peri-urban areas around Nairobi.
