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Days after Estate Agents Registration Board (EARB) warned Kenyans against illegal and felonious associations in the sector, the Association of Real Estate Stakeholders (ARES) has denied claims that it may be usurping the role of State regulatory bodies.

Officials of ARES, led by chairman Kinyua Wairatu (pictured), said it was established to self-regulate players in the field with a view to weeding out crooks who have been defrauding investors.

The association, he pointed out, was not in competition with other government agencies, but is instead working towards complimenting the government’s efforts in eradicating fraud in the sector.

EARB had warned the public to be wary of new associations and groupings from various mutations of land buying companies who have previously swindled Kenyans under the pretext of selling land.

The board noted that such associations are neither regulated nor registered by the board and government, warning that any person associated with such organizations may be exposed to fraud.

But Wairatu and his team who spoke to journalists after opening a new office at Spur Mall in Juja, Kiambu insisted that they were ready to work with other Government agencies with a common goal of restoring sanity in the sector that has left thousands of unsuspecting Kenyans crying after they were defrauded by unscrupulous land sellers.

“Anyone who is opposed to our activities is actually an enemy of development. Our team is legitimate and is indeed helping the government to deal with fraudsters in the sector. We are not in competition with any agency,” Wairatu stated.

His views were backed by other officials including the group’s spokesman Fred Kahura of Golden Dreams Land Ltd, who asked Kenyans to feel free and report any cases of fraud to ARES.

“We are working with relevant authorities including the police and administration to clean the name of real estate business which has in the past been invaded by questionable characters and outright thieves,” said Kahura.