A Mombasa court has granted a woman a Sh1 million bond after she denied three charges linked to an alleged land fraud involving two properties in Shelly Beach, Likoni, valued at a combined Sh100 million. The prosecution accuses her of conspiring with other individuals to claim land belonging to a registered owner, allegedly using questionable documentation and entering the disputed premises without permission.
The case, which involves allegations of irregular land registration and unlawful entry, is expected to proceed to a pre-trial conference in November 2026.
Highlights
- The accused faces three charges connected to two parcels of land in Shelly Beach, Likoni, worth an estimated Sh100 million.
- Prosecutors allege that a disputed lease was entered into official land records using information known to be false.
- The woman denied all the charges before Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Olimo.
- The court granted her a Sh1 million bond, with a surety of the same amount.
- The pre-trial conference is scheduled for November 12, 2026.
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Woman Faces Three Counts in Land Ownership Case
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) says the accused appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Olimo in Mombasa, where she was formally charged over the disputed properties.
The two parcels, registered as Mombasa/MS/Block 1/1944 and Mombasa/MS/Block I/1945, are recorded at the Mombasa Land Registry and are reportedly worth Sh100 million combined.
According to the prosecution, the woman allegedly worked with other individuals who have not been brought before the court to take control of the properties registered under Susan Wanjiru’s name.
The alleged conspiracy is said to have occurred between July 12, 2006, and October 20, 2026, within the Coast region.
The charges remain allegations, and the court has yet to determine whether the accused committed any of the offences.
Disputed Lease at the Centre of the Allegations
One of the charges relates to obtaining land registration through false pretences, an offence covered under Section 320 of the Penal Code.
Prosecutors allege that on July 12, 2006, the accused caused Lease Title No. Mombasa/MS/Block 1/416 to be entered into official land records.
The prosecution claims the lease was allegedly introduced using information the accused knew was untrue, with the intention of depriving Wanjiru of her ownership rights over the two properties.
Investigators will need to establish the circumstances surrounding the disputed document and whether it was unlawfully used to affect the registered owner’s interest in the land.
Alleged Unauthorised Entry in Shelly Beach
The third count concerns alleged forcible entry onto the disputed premises without the registered owner’s consent.
Under Section 90 of the Penal Code, the charge relates to entering property in circumstances that meet the legal requirements for forcible entry.
According to the prosecution, the alleged incidents took place between July 9, 2025, and October 20, 2026, in Shelly Beach, Likoni.
The prosecution maintains that the entry was unauthorised and intended to annoy the registered owner.
These claims will be examined through the court process, where the prosecution must present evidence to support its case.
Accused Denies Charges as Court Sets Bond
The woman denied all three counts when she appeared before the magistrate.
Her lawyer asked the court to release her on reasonable bond terms, arguing that she had a fixed residence within the court’s jurisdiction.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Breda Ogada, who is handling the case, urged the court to impose conditions appropriate to the seriousness of the charges.
After considering the matter, the magistrate granted the accused a bond of Sh1 million, with a surety of an equivalent amount.
The court scheduled the pre-trial conference for November 12, 2026, when preparations for the next stage of the proceedings are expected to continue.
Land Ownership Records Under Scrutiny
The case draws attention to the role of accurate documentation in protecting property rights and resolving ownership disputes.
Land registration records, lease documents and title details are important in determining who holds legal rights over a property. Allegations involving falsified records can therefore have significant consequences for landowners and other parties claiming an interest in disputed parcels.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations handles cases involving suspected title fraud, document forgery and unlawful entry, among other land-related offences.
For now, the Mombasa case remains before the courts. The accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and the allegations must be established through evidence presented during the proceedings.
In land disputes worth millions, the strength of the evidence and the integrity of official records can make all the difference between a claim and a legally established right.
