Four people have been released on bond after spending three days in custody on charges of defrauding a landowner of her Sh20 million prime piece of land in Ngeria area, Kapseret sub-county in Uasin Gishu county.
The accused persons, Tamar Cheptoo, Paul Samoei, Julius Ruto, Jacob Too and others not before court were ordered by Eldoret Principal Magistrate Kimani Mukabi to pay Sh500,000 bond each with surety with similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Sh200,000.
They were charged with defrauding the complainant, Emily Keter of her 20-acre prime piece of land and forging a title deed among six other charges. The four denied all the charges.
According to the charge sheet, the four conspired with intent to defraud Robert Keter (Emily’s brother-in-law), John Chumba, William Bitok, Lenah Jelimo and Edwin Boit of their share of the 20 acres of land by falsely pretending to be genuine owners of the property.
They are reported to have committed the offence between March 5, 2001 and February 15, 2022 at an unknown place within the republic of Kenya.
Cheptoo, Samoei and Ruto faced another charge of forging a title deed while purporting it to be a genuine and valid document printed by the Government Printer.
False document
The accused persons are also accused of uttering a false document in a case pending at the Chief Magistrate’s court where they are said to have presented the forged title deed on February 15, 2022 while purporting it to be a genuine document issued by the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning.
They faced another charge of making a payment acknowledgement note for the land on March 5, 2001 claiming that it had been signed and stamped by late politician Mark Too in the presence of an advocate.
Cheptoo, Samoei and Ruto are also accused of perjury by allegedly giving false testimony through sworn affidavits presented in court in a case where they claimed to be genuine owners of the disputed land.
According to the perjury charges the trio received orders to evict Emily and her family from the land known as provisional number A27 (EATEC) therefore causing a miscarriage of justice.
The matter will be mentioned on August 22 for further direction by the court
Ms Keter reclaimed ownership of the disputed land located near Eldoret International Airport seven months ago following intervention from President William Ruto, her former schoolmate.
The woman got the attention of the President during his tour in Eldoret in January and sought his help over the matter alongside five other people who are claiming ownership of the prime property.
In a face to face with the Head of State, Ms Keter urged him to assist her in repossessing the 20 acre piece of land. After listening to her pleas, President Ruto summoned Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi with instructions to sort out the issue.
“I was his former classmate and when he came to greet me, I informed him of my situation and sought his help. I also informed him that Sudi knew the ownership wrangle involving the property,” Ms Keter stated.
Sudi in turn mobilized and led a group of youths in demolishing structures erected on the contentious piece of land in broad daylight.