Juja Member of Parliament George Koimburi has been charged in connection with a Ksh10 million land fraud case, following allegations of a fraudulent land deal involving a 1.3-hectare parcel in Ruiru.
The legislator appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki where he faced four criminal charges. These included conspiracy to defraud, forgery, obtaining land registration by false pretences, and uttering false documents.
According to the charge sheet, the offences allegedly occurred on or before March 2020. It was claimed that Koimburi, alongside others not before the court, conspired to defraud businessman Julius Gitonga of land valued at Ksh10 million.
Koimburi denied all charges and pleaded not guilty. His legal team argued that he was not a flight risk and therefore should be granted bail without stringent conditions. The defence also pointed out that as a sitting Member of Parliament, any prolonged absence from parliamentary sittings could jeopardize his seat, citing constitutional provisions that require MPs to attend sessions consistently.
In addition, the defence informed the court that Koimburi had already reached a settlement with the complainant and requested the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to reconsider the case. They argued that the matter was effectively resolved outside court and therefore unnecessary to proceed with a criminal trial.
The magistrate released Koimburi on a cash bail of Ksh100,000. His co-accused, Shelmith Karungiri, had earlier secured release on similar bail conditions. A third suspect, lawyer Gathii Irungu, is reportedly out of the country and is yet to take plea in connection with the case.
The court set October 22 as the date for mention and pre-trial directions. Until then, the prosecution and defence will prepare their submissions, with the DPP expected to clarify whether the settlement between the accused and complainant has any bearing on the criminal charges.
The case has attracted significant public attention given Koimburi’s political stature in Juja constituency. Observers note that the proceedings may influence his political career depending on how events unfold in court. While the MP maintains his innocence, the charges highlight the legal risks public officials face when entangled in disputed land transactions—a recurring issue in Kenya’s property sector.
