A former Kayole chief and chairman of a self-help group was yesterday arraigned at a Milimani court over allegations of fraudulent acquisition of Sh944 million land.
Alexander Hoops Shihemi is accused of conspiring to grab approximately 11.8 acres situated at Doonholm, Nairobi, by pretending he had a genuine title deed.
In a different charge, he is accused of making a false letter of allotment intending to defraud Gidjoy Investment Limited of the land.
The document was purported to be assigned by a land administration officer.
On a third count, Shihemi allegedly made a fake lease and title deed purporting them to be genuine.
He did not take a plea after his lawyer informed court that they had obtained stay orders on criminal proceedings against Shihemi.
Chief magistrate Martha Mutuku directed that the matter be mentioned on October 17 for further directions.
Shihemi is allegedly the ringleader of land grabbing cartels posing as self-help groups in Eastlands, Nairobi.
The former chief was arraigned after three other alleged leaders of the groups, namely, Patrobas Awino, Peter Gitau Muiruri and Peter Njoroge Kanika were remanded at Industrial Area Remand Prison.
For decades the Embakasi, Savannah and Doonholm areas of Nairobi have been plagued by land grabbing cartels who gather residents to invade any undeveloped space without reference to the genuine owners.
The residents pose as needy squatters who are then coached how to form a self-help groups and request to be allocated the land by the city government.
