Harish Ramji, Ashvin Ramji, and Bharat Ramji arrested in connection with land fraud involving property owned by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Photo by DCI 
.By Andrew Mbuva
A team of detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested three men at the centre of a multi-million-shilling land fraud involving property owned by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), valued at approximately KES 350 million.
The suspects — Harish Ramji, Ashvin Ramji, and Bharat Ramji — were apprehended for the alleged illegal acquisition of a prime parcel of land situated in Athi River, within Mavoko Municipality in Machakos County.
Their arrest follows a formal complaint lodged by NSSF at the DCI headquarters on September 2, 2025. In the complaint, the Fund asserted its rightful ownership of the land and accused the trio of fraudulently obtaining a title deed by falsely claiming that NSSF had sold and transferred the property to them.
Investigations revealed that on May 27, 2010, the suspects, working with unidentified accomplices still on the run, forged a transfer document that appeared authentic and bore signatures purported to be those of the NSSF Board of Trustees. The disputed parcel measures approximately 3.043 hectares.
After completing its inquiry, the DCI submitted the file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). Upon review, the ODPP concurred with the investigators’ findings, determining that the evidence presented was solid and sufficient to support criminal charges.
The ODPP consequently authorised the prosecution of the suspects on several counts, including conspiracy to defraud, making a false document, obtaining registration by false pretences, and forgery.
On Thursday, detectives relying on forensic intelligence traced and arrested the suspects, who are currently in custody undergoing processing ahead of their arraignment. The manhunt for their accomplices continues.
The incident underscores the DCI’s sustained efforts to safeguard public assets and clamp down on individuals and networks involved in complex land fraud schemes.
