A mother and her daughter have been arrested over an alleged Sh40 million land fraud scheme in Karatina, Nyeri County, involving the transfer of several family properties without the knowledge of other relatives who had an interest in them.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said detectives from the Land Fraud Investigation Unit (LFIU) arrested Mary Muthoni Njogu and her daughter, Veronica Wambui Ng’ang’a, on Tuesday, August 18, after investigations into the alleged fraudulent transfer of the family properties.
The investigation began after one of the family members reported the matter on behalf of his siblings, accusing the two suspects of transferring valuable parcels of family land into their own names and those of companies linked to them.
According to the DCI, the properties at the centre of the dispute are valued at about Sh40 million.
Investigators said the alleged transfers were carried out between 2020 and 2023 without the knowledge or involvement of other family members who had an interest in the properties.
The DCI said the suspects allegedly carried out a number of secret transfers during the period, leaving out other members of the family from the transactions.
“Through meticulous investigations, it was uncovered that the suspects executed secret transfers from 2020 to 2023, deliberately excluding other family members from the transactions.”
Detectives from the LFIU examined the disputed property transfers and the circumstances surrounding the change of ownership as they sought to establish how the properties were transferred.
The LFIU is a specialised unit within the DCI that handles investigations into suspected criminal activity involving land and other property.
After completing the investigations, detectives forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for an independent review of the evidence gathered.
The ODPP approved the prosecution of the two suspects and directed that they face charges of conspiracy to defraud and fraudulent procurement of title.
“Upon conclusion of the investigation, the case file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), which, upon review, directed that the suspects be charged with Conspiracy to Defraud and Fraudulent Procurement of Title.”
The mother and daughter were scheduled to appear before the Karatina Law Courts on Wednesday, August 19, where they are expected to respond to the charges.
The case centres on the alleged fraudulent acquisition and transfer of ownership of the family properties.
The DCI has not said whether the disputed parcels have since been recovered or whether the alleged transfers have been cancelled following the investigations.
The allegations will now be considered through the court process, with the prosecution required to present evidence to support the charges against the two suspects.
The accused persons will also have an opportunity to respond to the allegations in court.
The DCI has urged members of the public to report suspected cases of land fraud and other criminal activity to help authorities investigate such cases and prevent further losses.
The agency said members of the public can provide information anonymously through its toll-free number, 0800 722 203, or WhatsApp line, 0709 570 000.
The DCI encouraged Kenyans who have information about suspected criminal activity to come forward, saying such reports can help investigators pursue those suspected of involvement in fraudulent schemes.
The Karatina case will now move before the courts, where the evidence against the mother and daughter will be examined and the allegations determined through the judicial process.