Paradise Lost land owners claim decades-old ownership, allege fraudulent takeover

Accompanied by their lawyers, advocates Danstan Omari and Duncan Okatch, the owners, led by Isaack Gichiab, said the land, measuring over 200 acres, has a long ownership history dating back to 1929 when their father allegedly acquired it through a bank loan.

Speaking to the press on Friday, the lawyers said the family remained in possession of the land from 1976 until it was later transferred to Ndunde Investment Limited.

“This is a cry for the right to property. If this continues, then anyone holding a title deed is simply holding a piece of paper,” said the lawyers 

The advocates alleged that in 2024, a fraudulent scheme began involving fake title deeds and illegal claims over the land. They claimed that despite several complaints to government offices, including the Ministry of Lands, the Chief Land Registrar in Kiambu, and the Principal Secretary for Lands, they were not assisted.

“The fraud allegedly started in 2024 when the Chief Land Registrar in Kiambu. Our clients went there but never got help. They also went to PS Lands Nixon Korir and were not assisted,” said lawyer Danstan Omari.

The lawyers further alleged that a group of individuals, whom they described as goons, invaded the land, uprooted vegetables, cut down trees, and now patrol the property day and night to prevent the alleged rightful owners from accessing it.

“They are very daring. They are patrolling the property day and night to ensure the owners do not do anything on that land. They have uprooted vegetables and are using wananchi as a front,” lawyer Okatch

According to court documents filed on April 11, 2026, before the Kiambu Law Courts, the owners claim the group unlawfully asserted ownership of the land and caused destruction despite reports being made to the police.

The lawyers accused police officers of frustrating the alleged genuine owners instead of protecting them, claiming no arrests had been made despite multiple reports.

“We have seen big names being mentioned, and the fact that police are frustrating the real owners is worrying,” they said.

The owners have since filed a case in 2026, which is scheduled for mention on April 30, while a constitutional petition over the same property will be mentioned on May 19 before Justice Bahati Mwamuye.

They said they have sued individuals allegedly holding fake title deeds and are also pursuing legal action against senior government officials, including the Inspector General of Police, over alleged failure to protect the property and compensate for damages caused.

“The Ministry is not taking that land, so the CS is not being mentioned as enforcing compulsory acquisition. However, we are pursuing accountability, and we hold the IG personally responsible for the damage caused,” the lawyers said.

They also cautioned members of the public against purchasing portions of the disputed land at suspiciously low prices before the matter is heard and determined in court.

“To those being deceived into buying this land at throwaway prices, be warned. Do not buy until this matter is fully heard and determined,” they said.