Two Directors Charged Over Sh45 Million Karen Land Fraud

Two directors of Waki Clearing and Forwarding Agents Limited have been charged with obtaining money by false pretences following investigations into an alleged Sh45 million land fraud in Karen, Nairobi.

The suspects, identified as Obadiah Kamau Kihara and Hannah Wanjiku Mbatia, were arrested on November 6, 2026, and arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts on November 9.

The case stems from a land sale agreement entered into on March 30, 2026, in which a complainant agreed to purchase a parcel measuring approximately 0.2042 hectares along Comboni Crescent in Karen at a cost of Sh45 million.

According to investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the buyer paid an initial deposit of Sh25 million, with the balance expected to be settled as the transfer process commenced.

However, the anticipated transfer did not materialise, prompting the buyer to report the matter to the police.

Detectives from the DCI's Land Fraud Investigation Unit subsequently launched investigations and established that the accused had received the Sh25 million deposit.

Further inquiries revealed that disputes had emerged over the property's boundaries, prompting the vendor to pursue an amalgamation and fresh subdivision of neighbouring parcels.

The investigations established that the property remained registered under the company's ownership, leaving the buyer's acquisition unresolved despite the substantial deposit already paid.

The proposed changes to the property arrangement also altered the terms of the original transaction, raising concerns over the buyer's assurance of acquiring the land based on the existing title and measurements.

Upon conclusion of investigations, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved charges against the two directors under Section 313 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and were each granted bond of Sh100,000 or an alternative cash bail of Sh50,000.

The matter will be mentioned in court on November 24, 2026.