ATHI RIVER, Kenya — Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested three men in connection with a massive land fraud scheme targeting property owned by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), valued at approximately Ksh.350 million.
The suspects, identified as Harish Ramji, Ashvin Ramji, and Bharat Ramji, were apprehended following a forensic investigation that linked them to the illegal acquisition of a prime 3.043-hectare parcel in Athi River, Machakos County.
According to the DCI, the investigation was triggered by a formal complaint filed on September 2, 2025. The NSSF reported that unknown individuals had “unlawfully obtained a title deed for the property and falsely claimed that NSSF had sold and transferred the land to them.”
This report launched a deep-dive forensic probe that uncovered a fraudulent paper trail dating back 15 years. Investigators established that on May 27, 2010, the suspects—aided by accomplices who remain at large—fabricated a transfer document designed to pass as a genuine legal instrument.
To ensure the document appeared authentic, the DCI revealed that it bore the forged signatures of the NSSF Board of Trustees, granting the paperwork the necessary credibility to bypass land registry checks.
Charges and prosecution
Upon concluding the investigation, the file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). After an independent review, prosecutors concurred with the DCI’s findings and approved a raft of serious charges against the trio. These include:
- Conspiracy to defraud.
- Making a false document.
- Obtaining registration by false pretences.
- Forgery.
The DCI confirmed the successful operation in a statement released following the arrests.
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“Today, detectives, using forensic leads, trailed and arrested the suspects. They are currently in custody, undergoing processing, pending arraignment,” the statement read.
The agency further noted that a manhunt is currently underway to track down additional accomplices involved in the syndicate.
