A former Tigania East Member of Parliament, Josphat Gichuge Mwirabua, has been arrested over an alleged land fraud scheme that defrauded investors of more than Sh56 million.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspect, also known as Kabeabea, was apprehended following a warrant of arrest issued by a Kajiado court.
According to the DCI, the case dates back to 2016 when several investors bought 50 by 100-foot plots from Diamond Property Merchants Limited.
The buyers signed individual agreements and made payments through accounts linked to the company.
“The complainant reported that he, alongside other investors, purchased parcels of land measuring 50 by 100 feet and made payments directly to the company’s bank accounts,” the DCI said in a statement.
Investigators said the investors deposited a total of Sh16.4 million in the initial transactions. However, the buyers later discovered that the land in Kajiado had been transferred to other individuals without their knowledge.
“They later established that the parcel of land had been transferred to third parties and subdivided without their consent,” the agency stated.
The matter was reported, prompting investigations by the DCI’s Land Fraud Investigations Unit. The findings were forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved charges of obtaining money by false pretences.
In a separate case, the suspect is accused of using the same company to advertise land parcels in Kajiado, promising investors greenhouse projects as part of the development.
“The accused, being a director of Diamond Property Merchants Company Ltd, advertised parcels of land in Kajiado that were to be equipped with greenhouses,” the DCI said.
Complainants in this second scheme reportedly paid a total of Sh40.1 million. However, no title deeds were issued and the promised developments were not delivered.
“The complainants paid various amounts totalling Sh40,140,000, but the promised title deeds were never transferred and no greenhouses were installed,” the statement added.
After failing to honour court summons, a warrant of arrest was issued against the former MP. Detectives later tracked him down and took him into custody.
“He is currently in custody and is expected to be arraigned before the Milimani Law Courts before being escorted to Kajiado Law Courts,” the DCI said.