By Court News Reporter
A bitter land row has erupted in Nairobi’s high-end Westlands area after Somali businessman Adan Haji Isaack was accused of hiring armed goons to terrorize and forcibly evict a city academic from a contested property along Peponi Road.
According to a police report filed at the Spring Valley Police Station, Isaack allegedly deployed a group of men armed with machetes and crude weapons to intimidate Professor Lumumba Nyaberi, a respected law lecturer at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
Professor Claims Coordinated Land Grab Attempt
Professor Nyaberi, 60, told police that his ordeal began when he attempted to defend his 1.2-acre parcel from what he termed a well-orchestrated land grabbing scheme.
The attackers allegedly invaded the property, threatening to “deal with him” if he refused to vacate. Neighbours reported hearing commotion as the group tried to fence off the land despite the professor’s protests.
Police Launch Investigations
Investigators at Spring Valley Police Station have confirmed that an inquiry is underway, though no arrests have been made so far.
Isaack is said to be under investigation for criminal trespass, assault, and malicious damage to property. Officers are also probing reports that construction equipment had been moved onto the land despite an ongoing ownership dispute.
High-Profile Dispute in Nairobi’s Real Estate Hotspot
The Peponi Road property, located within one of Nairobi’s most coveted addresses, has been at the centre of multiple ownership wrangles in recent years. Sources close to the probe say Isaack’s alleged accomplice is a Ghanaian national, who is also being sought for questioning.
Authorities say the case highlights the growing wave of violent property takeovers in Nairobi’s leafy suburbs, where influential figures are accused of manipulating land records and using intimidation to seize prime plots.
Community Reaction and Ongoing Probe
Residents in the area have called for swift police action, saying the incident has reignited fears of land-related violence and the use of hired goons in private property disputes.
Police sources indicated that once the ongoing investigations are complete, charges could be filed against those responsible.
Professor Nyaberi, meanwhile, has vowed to pursue justice through the courts, saying he will not surrender the land he legally owns.
Background on Nairobi Land Conflicts
Land disputes involving prominent businessmen and professionals have become increasingly common in Nairobi’s upscale estates, particularly Lavington, Runda, Kitisuru, and Westlands.
Legal experts warn that weak enforcement of land records and rampant corruption in land registries continue to fuel fraudulent acquisitions and violent evictions.