Investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have arrested three businessmen alleged to be behind the unlawful acquisition of a National Social Security Fund (NSSF) land parcel worth an estimated KES 350 million in Athi River, Machakos County. The arrests come as authorities intensify scrutiny into fraudulent capture of public property amid long-standing concerns over land theft affecting public institutions.
The suspects — identified as Harish Ramji, Ashvin Ramji, and Bharat Ramji — were detained after forensic leads linked them to the disputed 3.043-hectare property located in Mavoko Municipality. The land is said to have been illegally transferred from NSSF through documents investigators believe were forged to create the appearance of a legitimate transaction.
The matter was brought to the attention of the DCI headquarters on September 2, 2025, when NSSF lodged a formal complaint asserting its rightful ownership of the land. According to the Fund, the suspects allegedly secured a title deed by falsely claiming that the pension institution had sold the property to them.
Investigators say the alleged fraud dates back more than a decade. The DCI established that the suspects, alongside accomplices still at large, prepared a fake transfer document dated May 27, 2010. The forged paperwork reportedly carried signatures resembling those of the NSSF Board of Trustees, which authorities say was intended to deceive land registries into accepting the transaction as valid.
“This was not an accidental irregularity but a deliberate and coordinated attempt to deprive the public of its assets,” a detective familiar with the case said. “The documentation was carefully crafted to match official records and mislead officers in charge of registration processes.”
The inquiry file was later submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), where a review confirmed the presence of strong evidence supporting criminal charges. Prosecutors approved the suspects to face counts including conspiracy to defraud, making a false document, obtaining registration by false pretences, and forgery.
As the suspects were being processed on Tuesday following their arrest, efforts were underway to track down other individuals believed to have participated in the scheme. Investigators said those accomplices may include professionals linked to land transfers and legal certification, signalling a potentially wider criminal network.
The case underscores the persistent vulnerabilities surrounding public land holdings in Kenya, particularly properties managed by state corporations and retirement funds. Over the years, NSSF has been embroiled in a number of property-related disputes, ranging from undervalued sales to allegations of collusion between private developers and government officials.
Land within the Athi River area has become increasingly targeted due to rapid industrial expansion, residential development, and speculation linked to infrastructure projects such as the Nairobi Expressway and the ongoing growth of the Nairobi Metropolitan region. With demand skyrocketing, parcels once viewed as long-term public investments have become lucrative targets for illegal transfers.
NSSF has been under pressure to safeguard its property portfolio, which contributes significantly to the value of contributors’ retirement savings. The pension agency has repeatedly stated that illicit land grabs erode member benefits and reduce returns expected from legitimate developments. Officials have also pledged to adopt strengthened controls over asset records, digitise documentation, and pursue legal action against fraudulent claimants.
Kenya’s state institutions collectively own hundreds of parcels of high-value land, many of which remain inadequately documented or subject to contested titles. Legal experts argue that the lack of full transparency in land registries enables long-running fraud, while slow case resolution hampers recovery of stolen property.
For DCI, the arrests represent another step in a broader campaign targeting economic and organised crime. In recent years, detectives have increasingly deployed forensic document analysis, digital trails, and inter-agency cooperation to unravel land fraud schemes that previously went undetected.
“Protection of public assets is not optional. It is central to our mandate,” a DCI official said. “We are determined to ensure that those attempting to defraud Kenyans face justice, and that property belonging to the public is restored without compromise.”
The three suspects are expected to appear in court upon completion of processing. Officials signalled that more arrests could follow once the remaining suspects are located. The parcel at the centre of the dispute remains under investigation, with authorities working to reaffirm official ownership in favour of NSSF.
Stakeholders within the pensions industry say the case may set an important precedent for asset protection, particularly as public funds look to expand investment in real estate and infrastructure. They note that recovering unlawfully transferred property is crucial for maintaining confidence among contributors and preserving the financial integrity of institutions managing retirement savings.
As legal proceedings commence, the spotlight remains fixed on the security of public land assets — and whether Kenya’s enforcement agencies can outpace increasingly sophisticated fraud networks seeking to profit from public resources.
