Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Land Fraud Investigation Unit have arrested former Mathioya MP Francis Njakwe Githiari over an alleged land fraud scheme involving Sh6.4 million.
According to investigators, Githiari allegedly defrauded a couple after entering into an agreement to sell them a parcel of land in Ngong and oversee the construction of a double-storey residential house on the property.
Police say the former legislator presented himself not only as the seller of the land but also as the contractor responsible for developing the house. The total value of the land and construction project was reportedly agreed at Sh40 million, with payments to be made in instalments.
The couple allegedly deposited Sh6.4 million into Githiari’s account as part of the transaction before suspicions emerged during visits to the construction site.
Investigators say the buyers began questioning the deal after reportedly overhearing claims that the land ownership was disputed and that other parties had already filed a case asserting ownership of the same property. The revelations reportedly triggered alarm and forced the couple to halt further payments as concerns over the legitimacy of the transaction intensified.
A probe launched by detectives from the DCI Headquarters Land Fraud Investigation Unit later uncovered what authorities describe as compelling evidence linking the former MP to fraudulent acquisition of the funds.
Following investigations, a duplicate police file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which approved recommendations to charge Githiari with obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.
Authorities confirmed that Githiari was arrested at his Karen residence and is currently undergoing processing ahead of his arraignment at the Milimani Law Courts.
The arrest once again highlights the growing number of land fraud cases in Kenya involving disputed ownership, fake property deals and fraudulent construction agreements that continue trapping unsuspecting buyers in multimillion-shilling scams.
Land disputes remain among the most common and financially devastating forms of fraud in Kenya’s real estate sector, with many victims losing millions through forged documents, double sales and ownership conflicts tied to prime properties around Nairobi and its surrounding areas.
