Wamuzi News Ke
A dramatic turn of events unfolded yesterday when former Lands Commissioner and ex-MP Sammy Mwaita was re-arrested just hours after being released on bail in a staggering Sh150 million land fraud case.
The re-arrest marks a fresh twist in a scandal threatening to upend Kenya’s land registry credibility.Mwaita had earlier been granted bail—set at Sh10 million bond or Sh2 million in cash bail—after pleading not guilty to allegations of conspiracy to commit felony, forgery of official land documents, abuse of office, and providing false information to public officers ﹘ charges linked to the fraudulent registration of two prime Nairobi West plots valued at Sh150 million each .
But in a stunning reversal, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations moved swiftly to detain him again, citing fresh evidence and procedural considerations previously unaddressed.
His co-accused, Brian Kiptoo Kiplangat, who failed to appear in court, remains under summons and central to the deepening probe .
The properties in question—two contiguous parcels off Lang’ata Road along Mai Mahiu—were allegedly registered using forged titles without the consent or knowledge of the rightful owners, Rose Njoki King’au and Micugu Wagatharia.
Prosecutors say the duo orchestrated the fabrications as far back as 2001 while Mwaita wielded power at the Lands Ministry .Court officials disclosed that in 2020, Mwaita misled investigators by falsely claiming the land belonged to a corporate entity.
The alleged deception aimed to deflect charges onto the actual landowners—raising concerns over ethics and misuse of prosecutorial systems .
Following his re-arrest, senior investigators confirmed that Mwaita will remain in custody as magistrates consider stricter bail conditions or possible refusal. Meanwhile, contested legal tactics and revived allegations continue to unfold at Milimani Law Courts.
This saga comes nearly 24 years after the alleged crimes occurred, reigniting scrutiny over past land administration and corruption networks within government offices.
Observers warn that prosecuting a former top official so long after the fact could trigger broader investigations.As the matter unfolds, Kenya’s political and legal circles await Chief Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi’s next ruling.
With Mwaita back in detention and the judiciary under pressure, expectations are rising for deeper accountability in one of the nation’s most sensational land fraud scandals in recent memory.
