A notorious land fraudster who has been terrorizing property owners in Eldoret is finally behind bars. William Kimei Tanui, known for masterminding fraudulent land takeovers, was arrested on Friday, January 31, 2025, and arraigned at the Eldoret Law Courts on Monday. He faces charges of conspiracy to defraud, perjury, and obtaining land registration through misrepresentation.
His arrest followed a complaint by a distressed landowner in Pioneer, Eldoret South, whose 0.0929-hectare plot, worth Sh 50 million, had been hijacked through a well-coordinated scam.
Investigators uncovered a sophisticated scheme where Tanui falsified court documents to claim ownership of the land. On October 16, 2023, he swore an affidavit at the High Court, falsely stating that he had lived on the property since 1971. This tricked the court into declaring him the rightful owner.
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But Tanui wasn’t the only fraudster eyeing the land. Margaret Jemutai Kangogo and Zendera Kiplagat Biwott had already pulled off a similar con. In January 2023, they filed separate affidavits in a lower court, claiming to have occupied the land since 1999. By May 10, 2023, they had successfully manipulated the system to register themselves as owners and were already in the process of securing documents from the Ministry of Lands.
Trouble began when Tanui, unaware of their scheme, also tried to register the same land at the ministry. The clash between the two fraudulent groups exposed their scam, forcing the real landowner to seek police help.
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“This is one of the most elaborate land fraud cases we’ve handled. The suspects used fake court rulings and forged documents to try and steal private property,” said Detective Inspector Moses Kirui, who led the investigation.
Police launched a manhunt and arrested Tanui, who was known for evading authorities. However, Kangogo and Biwott are still at large, and warrants for their arrest have been issued.
Appearing before Magistrate Lucy Naliaka, Tanui pleaded “not guilty” to all charges. The court granted him a Sh 200,000 bond or an alternative Sh 50,000 cash bail. The case will be mentioned again on February 17, 2025.
Outside the courtroom, a police officer familiar with the case warned that this could be just the beginning.
“We suspect this is part of a larger cartel operating in Eldoret and beyond. More arrests could follow,” he said.
Land Fraud in Eldoret: A Growing Nightmare
Eldoret residents are alarmed by the rising cases of fraudulent land takeovers.
“It’s scary. You think you own land, only to find out someone else has fake papers for it,” said John Kiptanui, a local businessman.
Legal experts say loopholes in land registration make it easy for fraudsters to thrive.
“Land records need urgent digitization. The manual system makes it easy to manipulate ownership documents,” said Advocate Mercy Wanjiru, a land law expert.
What’s Next?
With Kangogo and Biwott still on the run, authorities have urged the public to be cautious when purchasing land.
“If you’re buying property, always verify ownership with the Ministry of Lands and check for any ongoing disputes,” advised Uasin Gishu County Commissioner, Julius Keter.
As the case unfolds, the real landowner can only hope that justice is served and she can finally take possession of what is rightfully hers—without another fraudster emerging from the shadows.
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