Suspected land fraudster arrested after fleeing Eldoret

Johanes Onkoba Boyi is suspected of defrauding unsuspecting land buyers in the North Rift region, taking millions of shillings.

Acting on a tip off from land fraud victims, the sleuths pounced on Boyi in his hide-out in Nairobi City where he had sought refuge to evade pending court cases in Eldoret. 

Boyi was driven to Eldoret, where he was booked at the Central Police Station before being taken to court where he was charged with defrauding one of the land buyers over Ksh. 8 million.

Appearing before Eldoret Principal Magistrate Cherono Kesse, the court heard that the accused obtained Ksh. 8,137,700 from Eldoret contractor Martin Sawe Chemonges by falsely pretending that he was in a position to sell him a prime parcel of land measuring 48 acres located in Uasin Gishu/Moiben settlement scheme.

Boyi is alleged to have committed the said offence on diverse dates between August 18, 2017 and August 14, 2020 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya jointly with others not before the court.

The accused, who was represented by lawyer Stanley Kagunza denied the charge as the magistrate declined his prayers to be freed on lenient bail/bond terms.

This was after the prosecution opposed his release on bond terming him as a flight risk.

The court was also told that two of his accomplices in the racket have so far been arrested by the DCI officers in Eldoret and charged. They denied the charges and were freed on Ksh. 100,000 cash bail.

The court directed that the accused be escorted to Eldoret GK. remand prison until October 1, 2025 when the ruling on his bail/bond application will be determined.