Notorious Land Fraudster Arrested in Eldoret

Eldoret, February 3, 2025 — A suspected land fraud mastermind, William Kimei Tanui, was arraigned at the Eldoret Law Courts today, facing charges of conspiracy to defraud, perjury, and obtaining land registration through misrepresentation of facts.

Kimei’s arrest on Friday, January 31, 2025, followed a complaint by the rightful owner of a 0.0929-hectare parcel of land located in the Pioneer area of Eldoret South. The owner’s attempts to develop and take full control of the prime property, valued at approximately Sh 50 million, had been thwarted by threats from Kimei and his associates.

Investigations by land fraud detectives revealed that Kimei had filed an affidavit at the High Court on October 16, 2023, falsely claiming to have occupied the land since 1971. His deceit led the court to wrongly declare him the legitimate owner of the land.

In a twist to the case, two other suspects, Margaret Jemutai Kangogo and Zendera Kiplagat Biwott, had previously moved to a lower court on January 25, 2023. The pair jointly swore affidavits claiming occupation of the same land since 1999. On May 10, 2023, they managed to obtain a court decree affirming their fraudulent ownership, which enabled them to acquire key land registration documents from the Ministry of Lands.

The situation escalated when Kimei sought to formalize his claim, triggering a dispute between the rival fraudulent factions. The legitimate landowner, left with papers but no access to the property, sought police intervention.

After a rigorous investigation, Kimei was tracked down and arrested. However, Kangogo and Biwott remain at large, with warrants issued for their arrest.

During his court appearance, Kimei pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was granted a bond of Sh 200,000 or an alternative cash bail of Sh 50,000. The court scheduled the case for mention on February 17, 2025.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any information that could lead to the arrest of Kangogo and Biwott. The case highlights the persistent threat of land fraud in Eldoret and underscores the need for due diligence when acquiring property.