EACC arrests 'chief architect' of Ksh.1.3 billion land fraud

Benson Limo, whom the commission described as the chief architect of the fraud, was arrested on Thursday during a raid at his Nairobi West home, in a search operation that also extended to his Kapenguria residence.

Among the items recovered from the operation include; volumes of official land transaction documents including blank certificates of title, blank green cards, duly processed title documents, as well as stamps for advocates believed to be used in effecting fraudulent transactions.

Limo is among eight individuals on the EACC’s radar following probe into the fraudulent scheme said to have been effected through collusion between land officials, advocates, and other private individuals.

The Thursday operation, which was pursuant to court orders, was also conducted in various targets across 6 counties including Kiambu, Nairobi, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Siaya, Naivasha, and West Pokot.

According to the commission, 41 other Land Registrars across the country are also under investigation for fraudulent dealings and corruption in land administration.

These include alienating government land to private developers, collusion with fraudsters to irregularly double allocations, facilitating tax evasion through stamp duty,  allocating private land belong to other persons, as well as the accumulation of unexplained wealth.

“Today’s operation has yielded valuable evidentiary material that will support the ongoing investigation. Upon completion, the outcome will inform appropriate action which including prosecution of the suspects and recovery of any unexplained wealth or proceeds of corruption,” a source at EACC said.