Two proprietors of Busara Forest View Academy have been charged with fraudulently transferring ownership of a five-acre parcel of land valued at Sh20 million to another company without approval from the school’s board.
Joseph Wagura Karanja and Martha Wangui Karanja appeared before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi, where they denied four charges relating to conspiracy to defraud, fraudulent acquisition of land registration, uttering false documents, and forgery.
According to the prosecution, the two—together with others not before the court—allegedly conspired on 3rd May 2001 at the Nyandarua District Land Registry to transfer Land Reference Nyandarua/Oljoro Orok Salient/1343 to Busara Computer Point Limited without any board resolution from Busara Forest View Academy Limited.
The parcel in question measures five acres and is valued at Sh20,000,000.
Forgery and Uttering Charges
The charge sheet further states that on 21st October 1994, Karanja knowingly and fraudulently uttered a forged transfer of share certificate at the Attorney General’s office in Nairobi. He allegedly presented the document to State Counsel Mary Njoki Githome, claiming it was a genuine share certificate signed in 1984 by the late Johannes Karanja.
Karanja is also accused of forging the same share certificate—together with unidentified accomplices—intending to unlawfully position himself as a director of Busara Forest View Academy Limited.
Investigators say the document was filed with the Registrar of Companies in Nairobi, despite being fraudulent and falsely attributed to the late Johannes Karanja.
Bail Terms
The two suspects pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Magistrate Andayi released each of them on:
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Bond: Sh1.5 million
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Cash bail: Sh1 million
The case will proceed to mention and hearing as scheduled by the court.