One of the four directors of the controversial auctioneering firm Lariak Properties entangled in the disputed Westlands plot where a Sh80million residence was demolished has been arrested.
According to police sources, three of this co-directors are on the run.
Nathaniel Kipkemboi Barmasai was arrested yesterday in Eldoret and transferred to Nairobi.
Today, he was grilled by Land Fraud Unit detectives at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.
He is likely to face malicious damage charges among others.
His co-directors who are still at large include; Samuel K. Chepkwony, John Kamaiyoa Rotich and Joel Kiplangat.
According to official records at Sheria House, Lariak Properties was registered in 2002.
Barmasai becomes the second person to be arrested in connection with the demolition after police arrested auctioneer cum politician Zachary Baraza of Siuma Auctioneers who was arraigned in court and released on a cash bail of Sh200,000. He was ordered to appear before investigators whenever needed.
The occupants of the house Niraj Shah and his wife Avani Shah told the press that on the material day, more than 25 men came to their home with a court order and gave them 30 minutes to vacate the house.
Shah said that he had a court order stopping the demolition of the house, whose lease he says was yet to expire.
Niraj and his wife Avani Shah said they are the legal occupants since their lease to the land, which was allegedly bought by a private company in 2010 expires in 2048.
The couple has condemned the demolition of their Sh80 million worth property by a mob allegedly deployed by the private developer.
They said the investor in question demolished the house without following police protocol.
According to Avani, Baraza showed her a document purporting that a private company named ‘Lariak Properties’ had bought the land from Metro pharmaceuticals in 2010.
Baraza was arrested and presented in court before being released on a cash bail of Sh200,000.
Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe said Baraza of Siuma Auctioneers should be reporting to the investigating officers whenever he is summoned to do so.
The cash bail will be relinquished once a formal charge has been filed against him.
Baraza told the press that he was just following a court order presented to him.
Baraza was arrested following complaints raised by the Asian family for violently evicting them from their home in Westlands.
The DCI wanted Baraza detained for 14 days on grounds that they are yet to recover the household goods and other personal effects of the complainant, which were allegedly taken by the goons led by Baraza.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that those household goods and personal effects may have been sold on the instructions of Baraza. That is why his assistance is essential towards their recovery,” an affidavit by Sergeant Eric Onyango read.
