- DCI said there is credible information that some of the individuals being evicted from the land are innocent buyers who fell victim to the fraudsters.
- He said detectives will work round the clock in recording statements from victims who may have lost their cash in the fraudulent transactions.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
The DCI has called on individuals affected by the Portland Cement land demolitions to report to the Athi River Police Station with documents or evidence that can help in the arrest of people who fraudulently sold them land.
In a statement on Tuesday, DCI Director Mohamed Amin said there is credible information that some of the individuals being evicted from the land are innocent buyers who fell victim to the fraudsters.
"Due to the magnitude of the Portland PLC matter, which involves significant personal losses for potentially innocent victims of land fraud, and the swindling of millions of shillings, the DCI has established desks at the Athi River Police Station to collect relevant information and evidence that will aid in the investigations," the DCI boss said.
He said detectives will work round the clock in recording statements from victims who may have lost their cash in the fraudulent transactions.
Amin assured that any information received would be treated with the utmost confidentiality and assured the aggrieved persons of security.
He said the victims should particularly bring along evidence of payments made to individuals who sold them the land.
"Rest assured that this exercise will culminate in action against these swindlers as the DCI aims to send a strong signal that these actions mark the end of land fraudsters' heyday in Kenya."
The DCI has meanwhile summoned 30 individuals including Mavoko MP Patrick Makau to provide information that may help in apprehending the culprits in the fraudulent land deal.
Makau has been directed to appear at the DCI Headquarters on Kiambu Road on Wednesday at 8am alongside former deputy county commissioners, former DCIO officers and former OCPDs who served in Mavoko during the land transactions.
The government on Friday last week started demolishing homes on the 4,298-acre piece of land after the Machakos Environment and Land Court ruled on October 9 that land LR NO. 10424 located within Athi River in Mavoko, Machakos County belongs to East African Portland Cement PLC.
The court struck out legal suit No. 74 of 2014 filed by Julius Mutie Mutua, Alex Kyalo Mutemi and Pascal Kiseli Basilo Mungui, officials of the Aimi Ma Lukenya Society.
Justice Nyukuri faulted Plaintiffs for failing to physically serve amended pleadings to all Defendants within 21 days as ordered by the Court on May 17, 2023.
On Tuesday, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr faulted the court for failing to consider public interest when making the ruling.
"It is simply not human to render so many people destitute for commercial expediency," he said.
"In determining the Mavoko land saga, the Court should have considered public interest and the celebrated principle of “ innocent purchaser for value without notice”! These houses were not built overnight," he said in a statement on his X handle.