Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested Nairobi-based lawyer Abdulahi Musdaf Hussein over his alleged involvement in a land fraud scheme in which investigators say a woman was at risk of losing property she had legally purchased.
According to a statement issued by the DCI on Monday, officers from the Land Fraud Investigations Unit (LFIU) apprehended the advocate in Nairobi’s Central Business District after completing investigations into the disputed land ownership case.
Woman says she bought the land legally
The DCI said the complainant had purchased the parcel of land in 2025 and had been enjoying peaceful possession of the property before the dispute emerged.
Investigators said the woman was shocked when she received court documents indicating that Abdulahi Musdaf Hussein was claiming ownership of the same parcel of land.
The development prompted her to file a complaint with the DCI’s Land Fraud Investigations Unit.
DCI launches investigations
Following the complaint, detectives commenced investigations into the ownership documents and the circumstances surrounding the competing claim to the property.
According to the DCI, the findings of the investigation were forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review.
The ODPP subsequently agreed with the investigating officer’s recommendation that the lawyer be charged with making a false document and uttering a forged document.
Arrest in Nairobi CBD
The DCI said officers tracked the suspect and arrested him in Nairobi’s Central Business District on Monday.
He has since been taken into custody and is undergoing processing ahead of his arraignment in court.
The agency did not disclose the value of the disputed property or the exact location of the land at the centre of the alleged fraud.
DCI warns against land fraud
The arrest comes amid ongoing efforts by the DCI to crack down on land fraud, a crime that has remained one of the most persistent property-related offences in Kenya.
The Land Fraud Investigations Unit was established to investigate cases involving forged title deeds, fraudulent transfers, double allocation of land, impersonation of property owners, and other offences affecting land ownership.
Land disputes remain a major challenge in Kenya, particularly in urban areas where rising property values have led to an increase in cases involving contested ownership documents.
Common land fraud schemes
Investigators say some of the most common schemes include:
- Forgery of title deeds and transfer documents;
- Impersonation of legitimate landowners;
- Multiple sales of the same parcel of land;
- Fraudulent court claims over already-occupied property; and
- Collusion involving professionals such as brokers, surveyors and advocates.
The DCI has repeatedly urged members of the public to conduct thorough due diligence before purchasing land, including official searches at the Ministry of Lands and verification of ownership documents.
Suspect remains innocent until proven guilty
While the DCI has recommended criminal charges, Abdulahi Musdaf Hussein remains presumed innocent unless and until a court of law finds him guilty.
The lawyer is expected to be arraigned once police processing is complete.
In its statement, the DCI also encouraged members of the public to report suspected land fraud and other crimes through its toll-free hotline 0800 722 203 or via WhatsApp on 0709 570 000 under the #FichuaKwaDCI campaign.
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