Three self-help group officials alleged to have conspired to obtain money from unsuspecting Kenyans in the Mavoko land dispute have been detained by a Nairobi court.
The Aimi Ma Lukenya Society officials, Julius Mutua (chairman), Pascal Kiseli (Treasurer), and secretary Alex Kyalo Mutemi were arraigned before Milimani senior principal magistrate Gilbert Shikwe where the court was urged to detain them pending investigations.
The prosecution told the court that the three are being investigated over conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretences.
"The investigations are at a preliminary stage and would like more time to investigate the suspects," the court was told.
The prosecution told the court that the complainant in the case is the MD East African Portland Cement and that there are verifications that have to be done.
However, the defence urged the court to dismiss the application saying that the suspects are not flight risk adding that they are leaders of a society.
Similarly, the three claim that the matter is pending before the court of appeal.
"There was no final decision to warrant the company to demolish the property when the matter and the same party is before the court of appeal," said lawyer Mutava Musyimi
According to the three, the matter has been alive since 2014 and they are willing to cooperate.
"Until that question is determined, no criminal charge can be preferred against them," the court was told
The court was also told that there was a charge sheet that was signed by the three Sunday night and wondered what happened to it.
"The suspects are well-known persons and are not a flight risk," the court heard.
The court was further told that East African Portland is a state corporation and the accused persons cannot threaten a whole corporation.
They are here in the capacity of being officials of the society not as a person.
"They don't work in the land offices, there's no way they will interfere with the investigations," they argued.
The Court will issue its ruling on Wednesday afternoon.
The three have been remanded at Muthaiga police station.