The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has announced its decision to charge former Kenyan ambassador to Iran, Joshua Igweta, with illegal land possession.
According to a press release from the ODPP, the charges come after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) uncovered evidence suggesting Igweta’s involvement in the unlawful possession of land parcels.
The ODPP has outlined three specific charges against Igweta: forcible detainer, obtaining land by false pretenses, and intermeddling with the property of a deceased person.
The ODPP statement dated July 25 detailed that Igweta is accused of forcibly detaining property, fraudulently obtaining land registration, and interfering with property that belonged to a deceased individual. The statement reads,
“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has therefore decided to charge Mr. Joshua Gatimu Igweta with the following offenses: Forcible detainer, contrary to Section 91 of the Penal Code; Obtaining land registration by false pretenses, contrary to Section 32o of the Penal Code; and Intermeddling with the property of a deceased person, contrary to Section 45(1) as read with sub-Section (2)(a) of the Law of Succession Act.”
The investigation revealed that Igweta is allegedly in illegal possession of two land parcels. One of these parcels, identified as Parcel No. Meru/Akaiga/1405, was originally sold and transferred to M’Mwithimbu M’arachi by Igweta Itaru, now deceased.
Despite this transfer, Igweta is said to be unlawfully holding the property. Additionally, Igweta reportedly secured a new title deed for another parcel, Meru/Akaiga/4522, in 2019, even though an original title under Igweta Itaru’s name still exists.
The DCI initiated an inquiry following a complaint regarding the suspected illegal land possession.
