Man Charged with Forging Signatures of Former President Moi’s Son to Acquire 250 Million Property

In a significant legal development, authorities on Friday, May 24, charged a man with forging a title deed and signatures, including those of the late Jonathan Kipkemboi Toroitich, son of former President Daniel arap Moi. The alleged forgery was part of a scheme to acquire a Kes.250 million parcel of land in Karen, Nairobi.

Eric Ogola Lugalia, a 39-year-old pilot, faces 11 counts of creating false documents, forgery, and presenting false documents to a police officer at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) land fraud department. Lugalia has denied all charges.

According to the prosecution, Lugalia created a fraudulent document with the intention of defrauding Stuart Gerald Cullinan Herd of parcel IR No1160/308 (Original No1160/248/2), located along Bogani Road and measuring 1.970 hectares. He is also accused of producing a false certificate of title IR No.99256 LR No.1160/308 (Original No.1160/248/2) dated August 2, 2005.

Further allegations state that Lugalia falsely represented the certificate as genuine, purportedly issued by the Ministry of Lands. The prosecution asserts that he forged the signatures of three land registrars—Fredric Indoko Lubullelah, George Gichimu Gichihi, and Peter Mburu Ng’ang’a, all stationed at Ardhi House, Nairobi. Additionally, he allegedly forged the signature of Jonathan Kipkemboi Toroitich on a sale agreement dated January 15, 2015, and on a land transfer instrument dated March 12, 2015. Lugalia is accused of presenting these forged documents as authentic, attested by High Court advocate Sonye J. Ondari.

On July 1, Lugalia allegedly presented the forged certificate, sale agreement, and transfer document to Sergeant Lawson Shuma at DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road.

Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Muthoni Nzibe, Lugalia pleaded not guilty. His lawyers requested reasonable bail terms, highlighting an ongoing High Court civil case regarding the land’s ownership. “This case commenced while there is a pending superior court case to determine the true owner since both Lugalia and Herd claim to be the bona fide owner,” Magistrate Nzibe noted.

State prosecutor Winnie Moraa did not oppose the bail application. Magistrate Nzibe granted Lugalia release on a Kes.300,000 bond with one surety or Kes.150,000 cash bail. She also denied a request to bar the media from reporting on the arraignment. The court has scheduled the case’s mention for July 21.