Former Tigania East Member of Parliament Josphat Gichunge Mwirabua, widely known as Kabeabea, has been arrested over claims that he defrauded land buyers of millions of shillings through questionable property transactions.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), operating under the Land Fraud Investigations Unit at headquarters, took him into custody following a series of complaints from investors alleging financial loss in land deals linked to companies associated with him.

Investigators say one of the cases dates back to 2016, when several buyers purchased 50-by-100 plots from Diamond Property Merchants (DPM) Ltd. The firm is reported to have connections to Mwirabua.

The investors reportedly signed sale agreements and deposited funds directly into company accounts, collectively paying about Ksh.16.4 million for the parcels.

Trouble began when the buyers later discovered that the land in Kajiado where their plots were said to be located had been transferred to other individuals without their knowledge.

Authorities also found that subdivision of the property was allegedly carried out without consent from the purchasers, prompting formal complaints.

After concluding its probe, the DCI submitted the file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved charges of obtaining money by false pretences against the former legislator.

In a separate complaint, Mwirabua is accused of receiving Ksh.40.1 million from investors after marketing land parcels through the same company with promises that the developments would include greenhouse installations.

However, complainants claim they neither received title deeds nor the promised agricultural infrastructure.

The prosecution later sanctioned charges in the second matter as well. Court records indicate that the suspect failed to respond to summons, leading the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kajiado to issue a warrant for his arrest.

Following the warrant, detectives tracked him down and arrested him on Tuesday.

He is currently in custody undergoing processing and is expected to be presented before the Milimani Law Courts before being transferred to Kajiado, where the warrant remains active.

The case adds to growing scrutiny of land transactions in the country, where disputes involving investors and developers continue to raise concerns over fraud and enforcement gaps in property dealings.