Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday apprehended a man accused of orchestrating a land fraud scheme in Pangani, Nairobi, after he failed to appear for plea-taking at Milimani Law Courts.
The suspect, identified as Francis Maina Ndegwa, is alleged to have forged signatures of officials in a plot to evict the rightful owners of a property valued at Sh50 million. He is currently in custody awaiting arraignment.
In a statement, the DCI said officers from its Land Fraud Investigations Unit “arrested land fraud suspect Francis Maina Ndegwa, who failed to appear for plea taking on February 19, 2026 at the Milimani Law Courts.”
Ndegwa had been charged with “Fraudulent Procurement of a Certificate of Lease Contrary to Section 103(1)(C)(i) of the Lands Registration Act,” following an investigation by the agency.
The charges relate to a parcel of land in Pangani, Nairobi County, worth approximately Sh50 million. According to the statement, the suspect allegedly forged the signatures of a land registrar, land administrator, and advocates, all of whom denied any dealings with him.
The DCI added that his “grand scheme was to unlawfully evict the rightful owners of a prime piece of land in Pangani, Nairobi County, valued at a staggering Sh50 million.”
However, Ndegwa failed to appear before the court as required. “Instead of presenting himself before the Magistrate, the suspect chose to take off,” the statement said.
Once the presiding magistrate issued a warrant of arrest, DCI officers acted promptly. “Immediately the Magistrate signed his Warrant of Arrest, a manhunt ensued, leading to his arrest,” the statement confirmed.
The suspect remains in custody and is expected to be presented in court for arraignment. “He is now in custody, awaiting his court arraignment tomorrow,” the agency said.
The DCI noted that land disputes and fraud are common in urban areas of Kenya, where property values are high, prompting the establishment of specialised units to investigate complex land transactions and alleged document forgeries.
“This apprehension reflects sustained operations by the DCI to dismantle illegal land fraud schemes, and sends a clear message to individuals considering similar criminal undertakings,” the agency said, highlighting its ongoing efforts to curb property crimes.
“The DCI remains committed to protecting the interests of legitimate property owners and ensuring that justice is served to all, equally and expeditiously,” the statement concluded.
Investigators said the arrest marks a critical step in ongoing operations to safeguard lawful land ownership in Nairobi.
