Notorious Mombasa Ramji Brothers Facing Criminal Charges in Sophisticated Land Grabbing Ring

Three siblings at center of multi-million shilling land fraud allegations spanning multiple counties

NAIROBI, Kenya – Three brothers from Mombasa’s Asian community are at the center of a sprawling land grabbing syndicate that has allegedly defrauded legitimate property owners out of millions of shillings through sophisticated document forgery schemes.

Harish, Bharat, and Ashvin Ramji, who operate Kings Collections Limited, a Nairobi-based clothing firm, face mounting criminal charges related to fraudulent land acquisitions across Kenya, with cases pending in courts in Nairobi, Machakos, and Kwale counties.

The most prominent case involves a disputed 7.47-acre parcel in Mavoko, Machakos County, valued at Sh350 million.

The brothers allegedly forged National Social Security Fund (NSSF) transfer documents to fraudulently claim ownership of land that had been legitimately allocated to Mombasa Cement Company in 2006.

According to court documents, NSSF officially allocated the property to Mombasa Cement at Sh900,000 per acre through a letter dated September 26, 2006.

However, the Ramji brothers allegedly altered the land reference number from LR No 11895/48 to LR No 11895/50 in a forged instrument of transfer dated May 27, 2010.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) moved to prosecute the brothers in April 2024 after receiving complaints from Mombasa Cement.

The cement company, represented by veteran lawyer Sanjeev Khagram of AB Patel and Patel LLP, insists there is “incontrovertible evidence” that the land transfer documents were forged.

“Even the seal number on the alleged transfer for LR No 11895/50 corresponds to the sealing of the transfer for LR No 11895/48,” court documents reveal, highlighting the sophisticated nature of the alleged forgery.

The brothers’ legal troubles extend far beyond the Mavoko dispute.

Court records show they are involved in multiple land ownership battles across Kenya:

In Kwale County, Harish and Bharat Ramji are locked in a legal battle with Zameen Land and Sand Company over land reference No Kwale/Shimoni Adjudication/300.

The case, numbered 271/2020, awaits hearing before Justice Naikuni.

Bharat Ramji and associates are also fighting Goldstein Group Services Ltd and Jamii Bora Bank Limited over ownership of Nairobi property LR No 21075, which is believed to have been fraudulently acquired.

Their company, Gami Properties Limited, faces allegations of attempting to grab public land LR No 209/5001 in Kwale County.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has been joined as an interested party in this case involving claims of public land grabbing.

In a significant ruling in April 2024, Machakos High Court Judge Christine Ochieng found that Ramji Manji and his associates Edward Nthuli and Paul Githaiga Ng’ang’a were “unlawfully and fraudulently issued” with titles to land LR No 209/4537 and grant No LR 87551 by the Commissioner of Lands.

The brothers have attempted to use legal maneuvers to avoid prosecution, filing petitions to prohibit the DCI and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from pursuing criminal charges.

However, the Kiambu High Court dismissed their petition in July 2024, though execution of the judgment was suspended until August 30 to allow for appeals.

The Environment and Land Court initially ruled in 2019 that the disputed Mavoko land belonged to Mombasa Cement, but the Court of Appeal later ruled in favor of the Ramji brothers.

Mombasa Cement has since appealed this decision to the Supreme Court.

The case has drawn attention to Kenya’s persistent land grabbing problem, with the Ramji brothers allegedly operating through a network of proxies and shell companies to execute their schemes.

Investigators suggest the syndicate has been active for over a decade, targeting high-value properties across multiple counties.

Legal experts note that the sophistication of the alleged forgeries – including matching seal numbers and altered land reference numbers – suggests a well-organized operation with access to official documents and processes.

The brothers, who are reportedly “living in fear of being arrested,” have not responded to requests for comment.

Their legal representatives have maintained their clients’ innocence and continue to challenge the various cases through the court system.

As the multiple cases wind through Kenya’s courts, the Ramji brothers’ alleged activities highlight the ongoing challenges facing Kenya’s land registration system and the need for stronger safeguards against fraudulent property transactions.

The cases are expected to continue through 2025, with criminal proceedings potentially leading to significant prison sentences if the brothers are convicted on forgery and fraud charges.