Economy

Nairobi businessman in Sh100m land fraud case gunned down

NGUGI

Mr Paul Ngugi was shot by gunmen along Forest Road in Nairobi on Wednesday night. PHOTO | FILE

A man charged with fraud and conning a land buyer of Sh100 million was shot several times by gunmen along Forest Road in Nairobi on Wednesday night.

Police said Paul Ngugi Kariuki, 42, slowed down at a bump on the road when the gunmen shot him at close range at 11pm.

He was with a woman passenger, who was not hurt. The businessman joins a growing list of land dealers who have been executed over the past year.

“He was with a female companion who only sustained bruises on the chin. The two were rushed to Aga Khan Hospital where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, but he later died,” said police spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki.

The woman was identified as Susan Wambura Riziki.

Police suspect the attackers were on a mission to kill the businessman because nothing was stolen from the two during the incident.

The deceased, a former employee of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), was driving in a silver Mercedes Benz registration number KBA 454H.

He was found with Sh23,010, KRA staff card, two mobile phones, a watch and other personal belongings.

Mr Kariuki’s body had two bullets lodged in his lower right abdomen, two on his left neck, one to his chest and another on his right arm.

The deceased, who was out on a Sh10 million bond, was to appear in court on March 26 for the hearing of a case in which he was charged with conning a land buyer of Sh95 million.

He was accused of falsely pretended that he was capable of selling a plot, which investigators later established that he did not own.

The court was told that Mr Ngugi, together with other accomplices who are yet to be charged in court, had  forged title deeds and purported to be the owner of a plot valued at Sh100 million in Nairobi. The land in question belonged to Mr Joseph Muthama Macharia.