Retired marathoner remanded over Ksh.8M land fraud in Eldoret

Kipyego is accused of defrauding Nandi County Mosop parliamentary aspirant Mary Lucy Kurgat by pretending he was in a position to sell her prime property on the outskirts of Eldoret CBD.

He was arrested last week by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Land Fraud Unit after jumping bail on several occasions. He had previously been granted a bond of Ksh.1 million or an alternative cash bail of Ksh.500,000 but went missing.

Eldoret Chief Magistrate Peter Ndwiga, while ruling on a certificate of urgency application seeking reinstatement of bond, directed that Kipyego be escorted to Eldoret GK Remand Prison where he will remain until the hearing and determination of his case.

Ndwiga said the accused confessed to absconding court multiple times, necessitating a warrant of arrest.  

According to the charge sheet, between November 19 and December 20, 2014, at Elgon View Estate, Kapseret Sub-County, Kipyego, with intent to defraud, obtained Ksh 8 million from Kurgat with a false promise to sell her land No. Eldoret Municipality Block 14/731 measuring 0.284 hectares, a fact he knew to be false.

He also faces a second charge of making a document without authority contrary to Section 357(a) of the Penal Code, for allegedly forging a title deed for the same parcel, purporting it was issued by the Registrar of Lands, Uasin Gishu County.

Kipyego has denied all counts.  

The prosecution has lined up five witnesses.  

The matter is set for hearing on September 7, 2026.