Fake title deeds: Top lands officials, a corp and hotelier detained

Senior lands officials ,a police officer, a hotelier and land brokers were on Tuesday detained for interrogation over the processing of fake land title documents.

Those detained by Milimani law courts senior principal magistrate Rose Ndombi are Dan Odero Okoth, Emmanuel Mutuku Matheka, Nicholas Mukuna Muyela, Livingstone Ambayi Munala, Kennedy Mulatya, Paul Mungai Kimani, and Leonard Clifford Wafula.

Lands officials--Okoth and Matheka--and Administration police officer Leonard Clifford Wafula are accused of stealing government stores which are allegedly used to print fake title documents.

The magistrate heard that the lands officers and the police officer allegedly steal headed government papers which they hand over to land brokers to print fake land title documents which they pass on to unsuspecting persons as proof of genuine land ownership documents.

“The suspects are allegedly involved in forgeries of some state department records of Lands and Physical Planning under the Ministry of lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Developments documents which includes, letters of allotments, deed plans, certificates of titles, certificates of leases, transfer of land documents, indentures among others,” Ms Ndombi was told by the prosecution.

She heard that Okoth and Matheka, are employees of the state department for Lands and Physical Planning, Survey of Kenya.

The two, Ms Ndombi was informed, are working in cahoots with “rogue land brokers to conduct land fraud at the state department for lands and physical planning.

“The duo allegedly supply blank lands documents, facilitate stealing of files from strong rooms, share contents of physical files and facilitate filing of forgeries into manual registries,” Ms Ndombi was informed by a state prosecutor at the Milimani law courts on Tuesday.

Both Okoth and Matheka are said to be working with their associate Livingstone Munala, a suspected document forgerer.

Ms Ndombi further heard Muyela, is an alleged land broker and works in cahoots with Okoth and Matheka.

Muyela who operates a hotel within the precincts of Survey of Kenya, allegedly facilitates the availing of contents of physical files and filing of forgeries through Matheka.

He also shares information with Okoth who eventually liaises with documents forgers.

“Our intelligence has established he (Muyela) resides in Dandora, Nairobi County,” the investigating officer Nicolaus Osuri disclosed in the evidence availed to the court.

Munala, who operates four(4) mobile phones has allegedly been helping land brokers to source and print counterfeit land sheets, which are later ingested into the Lands Ministry’s digital and manual registries, thus defrauding genuine land owners.

“Munala is working with other unidentified individuals, who forge lands official’s signatures, registrar stamps and backdates the documents to appear genuine,” the prosecutor stated while urging the court to remand the suspects for 14 days.

The court heard Munala is a freelance operator who does not have a specific office within Ngara area within Starehe sub-county where as he resides at Obama estate along Kangundo Road.

Ms Ndombi heard Mulatya allegedly helps rogue land brokers to print counterfeit lands documents which are later ingested into the lands ministry’s digital and manual registries.

Mulatya is accused of working with Munala to forge allotment letters, deed plans, certificates of titles, transfers, indentures, amongst other documents.

“He works with Munala to forge lands officials signatures, registrar stamps, and backdates the documents to appear genuine,”Mr Osuri states in a supporting affidavit.

Kimani allegedly supplies printing papers to individuals who allegedly process fake and fraudulent land documents within Nairobi County.

Wafula, the magistrate heard allegedly supplied government stores.

“Together with others, the suspects forge official stamps and signatures more so for the retired civil servants and or deceased former staff of the state department of Lands and Physical Planning,” Mr Osuri states.

The magistrate was urged to detain the suspects for 14 days to enable police visit the residential and office blocks from where they operate to cart away documents, laptops, computers and other documents.

Mr Osuri said himself and other DCI officer will visit Kamulu, Tena Estate, Dandora, Obama Estate, Marurui, Kirinyaga Road, Terry House-Ground Floor, Umoja Estate and Njepark Apartment, House No.3D in Umoja Innercore.

Defence lawyer Felix Keaton opposed the 14 days detention plea saying no compelling reasons have been advanced to warrant the incarceration of the suspects.

Mr Keaton said bail is a constitutional right and urged the magistrate to exercise her discretion by rejecting the DPP's detention request.

Ms Ndombi will decide on Wednesday whether to detain the suspects or not.