Man arrested in alleged Sh25 million Eastleigh land fraud probe

Arrest Illustration./FILE

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Land Fraud Investigations Unit (LFIU) have arrested a man over allegations of making false documents in a suspected scheme to illegally take over a parcel of land valued at Sh25 million in Eastleigh, Nairobi.

The suspect was apprehended following investigations into claims of attempted fraudulent acquisition of private property located in Eastleigh section one, 4th Street.

According to investigators, the complainant reported that she legally purchased the land on December 10, 1966, for Sh56,000 and has retained ownership of the property for decades.

However, she told detectives that she has recently faced persistent attempts by fraudsters seeking to dispossess her of the land.

DCI said the matter was escalated to the Land Fraud Investigations Unit after the complainant raised concerns over what she described as relentless efforts to interfere with her ownership rights.

“Prompted by these claims, a thorough investigation was launched,” the DCI said.

“Detectives uncovered compelling evidence of fraudulent activity aimed at unlawfully dispossessing the rightful owner of the property.”

Investigators established that false documents had allegedly been prepared and used in an attempt to support claims over the land, triggering further forensic examination of land records and associated documentation.

The probe revealed what authorities termed as a coordinated attempt to misrepresent ownership details in a bid to transfer the property illegally.

Following the investigations, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which reviewed the evidence and concurred with investigators’ recommendation that charges be preferred for the offence of making false documents.

After receiving the prosecutorial advice, detectives moved in and arrested the suspect, who is currently in custody undergoing processing pending arraignment in court.

The DCI said the arrest is part of ongoing efforts to crack down on land fraud syndicates targeting valuable urban properties through forged documents, impersonation and manipulation of land ownership records.

Authorities warned that land fraud remains one of the most prevalent forms of economic crime in major towns, often leaving genuine landowners at risk of losing property through illegal means.

They further urged members of the public to exercise caution when engaging in land transactions and to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies for swift action.

The suspect is expected to be arraigned once investigations and processing are complete as detectives continue to pursue other leads linked to the broader fraud network.

The DCI has encouraged the public to report land fraud cases through its toll-free hotline or WhatsApp service, noting that community cooperation remains key in dismantling such schemes.