Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi at his office on February 28, 2023.
Two tycoons are feuding with the Kiambu County Government over the sale of land valued at Sh4 billion to investors.
Businessman Pius Ngugi and his partner John Mwaura have clashed with the county government on the proposed subdivision of 406 acres in Juja earmarked for the development of Vantage View Estate.
Mr Ngugi owns Thika Coffee Mills and Kenya Nut Company, the firm in whose name the land is registered.
Mr Mwaura is the founder and chief executive officer of Finsco Consulting Africa Limited, a real estate and marketing company.
Trouble started on Saturday when Finsco Consulting Africa Limited, the marketing agent for the land, held an open day on the land at Juja along Gatundu Road. The event was presented as a “site viewing” for potential investors.
Police officers and county inspectorate officers stormed the area and arrested employees of the firm as well as potential clients. Those arrested were detained at Juja Police Station. An outspoken former legislator from Kiambu intervened to have them released.
Documents seen by Nation.Africa show Mr Mwaura had written to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s administration on December 4 on the planned investors’ open day. The firm paid the requisite fee.
Mixed development
“Reference is hereby made to the above project, a mixed development …developed by Kenya Nut Company Limited jointly with Finsco Consulting Africa Limited as the development agents dubbed Vantage View Estate Juja. As part of our market-sounding activities, we shall be inviting our potential investors /clients for a site viewing open day on Saturday 7 December 2024. Our technical team includes the planner, architect, surveyor, and environment consultant, among others, is in the final stages of preparing the project documentation and planning brief for the purpose of application for county approvals in compliance with the Physical Planning Act,” Mr Mwaura wrote to the county.
He said yesterday that the event was to introduce the investment to potential buyers and give them indicative prices as they sought approval from the county government’s Land, Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development department.
“The open day was more of a tour of the project to take the investors through what we have to offer while awaiting approval from Kiambu County Government. It is sad we had to cancel the event after inviting investors. We feel the county government is not friendly to land-buying and selling companies. It should create a conducive environment for investors,’’ Mr Mwaura said.
But Kiambu County Executive Committee Member for Lands Salome Wainaina told Nation.Africa the event was cancelled because Finsco Consulting Africa Limited was selling land which has not yet been approved for subdivision.
Interdicted
Ms Wainaina said the receipt that the firm was using, purportedly from the county revenue department, was fake. She said that the officer who issued it had been identified and interdicted.
The county executive added that while investors are welcome in the county, they must abide by the rules and regulations. She said allowing developers to collect money from buyers for unapproved projects was akin to abetting fraud.
Ms Wainaina maintained that Finsco had not presented any application to the county.
“You cannot sell what has not been approved (for subdivision). What if the application is later rejected when the company has already collected money from buyers?” Ms Wainaina asked.
Finsco denied the claim that the document it used was fake. The firm said it was issued by the county revenue department.
At the same time, another real estate developer, Superior Homes, is also entangled in a row with the county government over the alleged advertising and sale of unapproved land in Juja. The 402 acres are estimated to be valued at Sh4 billion.
In a letter dated November 12, Kiambu County has asked the County Criminal Investigations Officer Aggrey Okoth to investigate alleged irregularities relating to the change of user and subsequent alleged irregular subdivisions of Plot LR No 247/1 and 248/5.
''In order to ensure there is an orderly balance between commercial development and retention of agricultural area, the county government has put in place clear approval procedures for change of user and subdivision of land in the county. The above-referenced alleged change of user and subdivision did not have the approval of the county executive and there are allegations of unethical behaviour of the professional entrusted with the process,’’ reads the letter by Mr Peter Ndegwa, acting Kiambu county Secretary and Head of Public Service.
Kiambu County on Tuesday told Nation.Africa that a county official based in Gatundu South had been interdicted on allegations of issuing unofficial invoices to Superior Homes.
Two staff of Superior Homes were arrested and arraigned in court to answer to claims of subdividing land for sale without the approval of the county. The employees were released on a cash bail of Sh 500,000 each.
Superior Homes had not responded to inquiries by Nation.Africa. The firm’s publicist had also not responded to Nation’s request for a right of reply.
