Ruiru Land Buyers Left in Limbo After High Court Cancels Title Deeds

Hundreds of families in Ruiru, Kiambu County, are at risk of eviction after the High Court nullified title deeds for a 500-acre estate, ruling the land legally belongs to the family of former intelligence chief James Kanyotu.

The estate, known as Imani, was developed and sold by Ukombozi Holdings Limited, the commercial arm of Deliverance Churches Kenya. Marketed through church platforms and endorsed by senior clergy, including Bishops Mark Kariuki and John Masinde, the plots were offered as secure, faith-backed investments priced between Sh2.5 million and Sh4.4 million.

Buyers were assured that the land was properly acquired, with some told it was divinely sanctioned. However, the court has found that Ukombozi had no legal right to sell the property and that the entire chain of transactions was fraudulent. 

The judgment has left investors, many of whom used savings or loans to purchase plots and build homes, without legal ownership. One such buyer, Mr Michael Kamau, spent Sh34 million to construct a maisonette on two plots bought through a church referral. 

“It is painful to be told your home sits on land that does not belong to you,” he said. “Sadly, we were duped by men of God who knew from the beginning that the property was not legally theirs.”

Mr Stephen Mbugua, who built a Sh9 million house after buying land in 2018, only discovered the ownership dispute after construction was complete. “Ukombozi never told us they were only acting as agents,” he said. “Now all our documents have been cancelled, and those who sold the land to us have gone silent.”

The dispute centres on land originally owned by Kangaita Coffee Estates Limited, a company linked to the late James Kanyotu. In 2010, the High Court barred any transactions involving the land until succession matters were resolved. 

Despite this, the land was sold to Trendsetters Investments Limited, a company associated with businessman Kamlesh Pattni, and later transferred to Marriott Africa International Limited. Marriott then sold it to Ukombozi Holdings, which subdivided and resold the plots to the public.

Court documents indicate that Ukombozi acted on behalf of Pattni. Mr Willy Kihara, identifying himself as Kanyotu’s son, told the court that Ukombozi was marketing the land on Pattni’s instructions. Records also show that Marriott and Trendsetters shared a business address and had overlapping shareholders, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the transactions.

Forensic investigations found that several key documents used to support the land sales were forgeries. Nonetheless, thousands of buyers had already invested, relying on the perceived credibility of church leaders and the apparent approval from state offices that issued the now-revoked leases.

As affected families prepare for possible demolitions, Ukombozi’s directors, including Bishops Kariuki and Masinde, have yet to respond to public or legal inquiries.