By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
William Kimei Tanui, a suspect in a land fraud case involving a widespread scheme aimed at prime land parcels in Eldoret Township, has been presented before the Eldoret Law Courts. He faces charges of conspiracy to defraud, perjury, and obtaining land registration through the misrepresentation of facts in court.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reported that the suspect was arrested on Friday, January 31, 2025, following a complaint from the aggrieved owner of a 0.0929-hectare plot situated in the Pioneer area of Eldoret South.
The owner had faced significant challenges in gaining full control of her land and advancing its development due to threats from Kimei and a similar criminal group.
“As land fraud investigators probed the case, it was uncovered that, Kimei, knowingly and with intent to obtain land registration, had on 16th October, 2023 filed an affidavit at the High Court purporting to have been in occupation of the land since 1971, thus misleading the court to declare him the genuine owner of the land valued at approximately Sh 50 million,” said the DCI.
Two additional suspects, Margaret Jemutai Kangogo and Zendera Kiplagat Biwott, moved to a lower court on January 25, 2023. They jointly submitted sworn affidavits asserting their occupation of the same parcel of land since 1999.
The two suspects successfully deceived the court into recognizing them as the legitimate owners by obtaining a decree dated May 10, 2023.
Subsequently, they approached the Ministry of Lands to secure all necessary documentation, until Kimei also sought access to the same resources.
It was during the intense conflict between the two fraudulent factions that the victim realized they held documents but had no tangible assets to demonstrate, prompting them to seek assistance from the police.
The DCI reported that the slippery Kimei was traced and arrested, but Kangogo and Biwott have since holed up. A warrant is in force for the arrest of the duo.
The DCI further added that upon his arraignment, Kimei pleaded not guilty on all charges, and was released on a Sh 200,000 bond with the alternative of a cash bail of Sh 50,000.
The matter will be mentioned on February 17, 2025.