Four Sowesava self-help group officials charged with fraud
By Bernice Mbugua, August 6, 2021
Four officials of the Sowesava self-help group have been charged afresh with conspiracy to defraud Gidjoy Investment Limited 11.8 Acres parcels of land worth around 1 billion.
The four include former Chief of Kayole in Nairobi Alexander Hoops, Peter Gitau Muiruri, Peter Njoroge Kanika, and Patrobas Awino.
They are accused of conspiring to defraud the said company the said property located in Donholm Nairobi by false pretending that they had genuine title deed issued and signed by Rosemary Anyango Ngong’a, a Land’s Registrar.
The offense allegedly occurred on or about 28 November 2001 jointly with others who were not before the court.
The 11.8 Acres are; formerly Nairobi lock 82/7333 now part of amalgation of parcels Nairobi/block 82/7813 to Nairobi/block 82/7856.
The four are also accused of making a false documents namely Letter of Allotment and a Lease with intent to defraud the said company the said land worth sh 944 million.
They also face a charge of forging a title deed purporting it to be a genuine title issued and signed by Rosemary Anyango on unknown dates jointly with others who are not before the court.
The court heard that they also forged another lease purporting it to be a genuine Lease signed, stamped and executed by Ng’arua kamuya Ng’arua and advocate of the High the court.
The four pleaded afresh to the charges after the prosecution consolidated the files.
They were first charged in 2018 in separate suits, but the courts agreed with the prosecution and defense on the need to consolidate the cases as they were handling similar matters.
The four were arraigned in court in 2018 after their activities were thoroughly investigated by DCI.
Two of the accused persons, Chief of Kayole in Nairobi Alexander Hoops and Patrobas Awino were however charged for the first time on Friday.
They were released on sh 1 million cash bail or a bond of sh 2 million.
Awino had moved to the high court to stop his prosecution but the case was dismissed by High court Judge James Makau for want of Prosecution.
The Embakasi, Savanna, Donholm areas of Nairobi have for close to two decades been plagued by land-grabbing cartels who used local villagers to invade any undeveloped space.
The villagers pose as needy squatters, who were then coached how to form a ”self-help group” and demand that they be allocated the land by the Nairobi City Council.
The case will be mentioned on 19th August.