Ringtone Apoko Denied Bail in Sh50 Million Karen Land Fraud Case

Gospel musician Alex Apoko, known widely as Ringtone, was remanded in custody following a court decision to deny him bail in a case involving allegations of land fraud. 

Apoko and his co-defendant, Alfred Juma Ayora, are implicated in an alleged scheme to illegally seize a prime parcel of land located in Karen, valued at Sh50 million. Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego presided over the hearing and declined to grant bond to Apoko and Ayora after both pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud, false swearing, and perjury. The court has ordered Apoko's continued detention at the Industrial Area Prison until May 19, pending the presentation of a pre-bail report.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) asserts that the two men conspired to unlawfully obtain a 0.1908-hectare property by falsely claiming adverse possession. Specifically, prosecutors allege that on February 28, 2023, Ayora falsely claimed to have occupied the land for more than two decades—a claim the prosecution contends was deliberately misleading. According to court documents, Ayora is further accused of submitting a false affidavit before Advocate and Commissioner for Oaths S.M. Katonya. 

The document purportedly misrepresented that Ayora had resided on the disputed land, registered as NAIROBI/BLOCK 99/142, for 20 years. Ayora also faces charges of perjury for allegedly providing false testimony before the Environment and Land Court in Case No. E012 of 2023 (OS). In these proceedings, he was the petitioner against businesswoman Teresia Adhiambo Odhiambo—the legitimate claimant of the land—and the Chief Land Registrar.

Prosecutors allege that Ayora knowingly presented false information in an affidavit submitted to the court concerning his occupation of the property. Apoko's legal challenges intensified earlier this month when an arrest warrant was issued on May 7, 2025, due to his failure to attend two scheduled court appearances. During his hearing, the singer requested leniency, citing health complications as a reason for favourable bond terms. Magistrate Alego, however, denied his immediate release, mandating his continued detention until his bail application is resolved.

Beyond the legal arena, Apoko has been grappling with severe health problems. The musician, known for his gospel hit "Tenda Wema," was hospitalised on May 6, 2025, after experiencing severe breathing difficulties. In a video shared after YouTuber 2 Mbili and his friends visited him in the hospital, Apoko revealed that he had been undergoing rehydration via intravenous drips and described his illness as agonising.

“You can see there are so many water IV drips here inside. I’ve been having serious trouble breathing,” he stated, visibly weakened by the condition.

The artist further revealed that he had been enduring intense chest pains, though he remained uncertain about the root cause of his ailment. According to Apoko, he had been prescribed medication and expressed hope for a full recovery.

“What’s currently happening is that I’ve been put on medication. And I hope I’ll recover. But I’m still experiencing chest pains, and I can feel the ache lingering in my chest,” he remarked while seated at the edge of his hospital bed.

Reflecting on potential causes of his illness, Apoko speculated that prolonged exposure to cold, particularly heavy rains over several days, may have contributed to his deteriorating health. Throughout the hospital visit, the singer’s discomfort was evident as he frequently shifted and curled his body, seemingly struggling to find relief from the pain.