State House Political Adviser Under Investigation Over Alleged Sh5.7 Million Land Deal Scam

A disputed land lease transaction in Nairobi’s South B estate has escalated into a high-profile fraud investigation, after a Somali businessman accused a senior presidential adviser of swindling him millions of shillings in a deal that allegedly collapsed under false representations.

The complaint, now before both the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), centres on an alleged Sh5.7 million payment made in connection with a land lease that never materialised. The matter has attracted public scrutiny following the submission of detailed documentary evidence to investigators, raising fresh concerns about abuse of office and accountability among senior government insiders.

Named in the complaint is Karisa Nzai Munyika, a Political Affairs adviser in the Executive Office of the President at State House.

According to the complainant, businessman Abdinoor Abdi, Munyika received substantial sums of money on the promise of leasing land in South B. Abdi alleges that after payments were made, the transaction fell apart when it emerged that the property was either unavailable or not as represented.

In a formal complaint filed in February 2024, Abdi states that he entered into the arrangement in good faith, influenced by Munyika’s prominence and position as a public official. Through his lawyer, Karen Rono of Chelangat Law Advocates, Abdi argues that trust played a central role in the transaction.

“Our client relied on the representations made and the perceived credibility attached to the respondent’s public office,” the complaint notes, adding that the payments were made transparently and are fully documented.

Investigators have been provided with records showing multiple payments allegedly made to Munyika through various channels. These include several M-Pesa transfers, a bank transfer, a cheque deposit, and a substantial cash payment, all said to total Sh5.7 million.

The documents detail M-Pesa transactions ranging between Sh100,000 and Sh250,000, a Sh990,000 bank transfer to Munyika’s personal account at Kingdom Bank, a cheque payment of Sh500,000, and cash allegedly amounting to Sh2 million.

Abdi claims that despite persistent demands over more than a year, Munyika has neither refunded the money nor fulfilled the alleged lease agreement.

His lawyer contends that the conduct amounts to fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of trust, offences that may fall under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act of 2003. A police report has been filed under OB No. 60/17/2/2025, and both the DCI and EACC have opened investigations.

In a letter dated March 11, 2025, and acknowledged as received by the EACC, Chelangat Law Advocates urged the commission to act swiftly, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the risk of public office being exploited for personal gain. A similar request was submitted to the DCI, calling for coordinated investigations and appropriate legal action.

The letter further states that the complainant is prepared to submit additional documentation to assist investigators as inquiries progress.

While some reports have described Munyika as a wanted suspect, police sources caution that investigations are still ongoing and that any enforcement action will depend on the findings and evidence established by investigators.

Officials at both the EACC and the DCI have confirmed that the complaint is under active review but declined to comment further due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Attempts to reach Munyika for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication.

The case has reignited debate around land-related fraud, due diligence in private transactions, and the standards of integrity expected of individuals holding influential positions within government.