Couple arrested over alleged Sh2.4 million land fraud in Ruiru

Arrest Illustration/FILE

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have arrested a couple for allegedly fraudulently obtaining Sh2.4 million from a land buyer in a suspected fake land sale scheme in Ruiru subcounty.

The suspects, both secondary school teachers, were arrested by officers from the DCI headquarters’ Land Fraud Investigation Unit after investigations linked them to the alleged fraud involving a parcel of land in Mwihoko.

“Detectives from the Land Fraud Investigation Unit acted on a complaint and launched investigations into the matter, which revealed a case of fraudulent land dealings,” the DCI said.

According to the DCI, the case began after a complaint was lodged on behalf of a woman living in Denmark, who had asked her sister in Kenya to help her purchase land valued at Sh2.4 million.

The woman had reportedly identified a parcel in Mwihoko and entrusted her sister with the transaction, believing the land belonged to the seller.

However, the deal took a different turn when they visited Ardhi House to finalise the title transfer process.

It was during the verification stage that officials discovered the land was registered under a different owner and did not belong to the person who had sold it.

“That discovery raised red flags and prompted further investigations into the transaction,” the DCI said.

The revelation raised suspicion and prompted the matter to be reported to investigators, leading to a full probe by the DCI’s specialised land fraud unit.

Detectives said they carried out investigations and gathered evidence before forwarding the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal review.

“After meticulous investigation, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP),” the DCI said.

After reviewing the file, the ODPP directed that the suspects be charged with obtaining money by false pretences.

The couple was arrested on Thursday and remains in police custody as processing continues ahead of their arraignment in court.

The DCI said the case highlights the growing problem of land fraud in the country and warned Kenyans to exercise caution when purchasing property.

Land scams remain among the most common fraud cases reported in urban and peri-urban areas, with buyers often losing millions of shillings through fake title deeds, double sales and impersonation of landowners.

Investigators urged members of the public to verify ownership details thoroughly before making payments and to involve qualified legal professionals during land transactions.

They also encouraged victims of fraud to report such cases through official channels to enable swift investigations and possible recovery of lost funds.

“This case serves as a stark reminder of the land fraud issues in our nation, highlighting the importance of vigilance in real estate transactions,” the DCI said.

The agency asked members of the public with information on suspected land fraud to report anonymously through its toll-free line or official WhatsApp platform.

“We urge all land buyers to conduct due diligence through official channels, including verification at Ardhi House, before committing any payments,” the DCI advised.