A fresh corruption scandal is unfolding in Trans Nzoia County, implicating a wealthy Kitale-based businessman, Vipul Ratital Cosar Ramji, in an elaborate land-grabbing and bribery racket that has reportedly infiltrated local courts and county offices.
According to court filings and interviews with multiple sources, Ramji—known locally for his deep pockets and controversial land dealings—illegally subdivided and sold public land belonging to Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) and Kenya Grain Growers Co-operative Union (KGGCU), despite multiple High Court orders maintaining status quo.
The Land at the Center of the Storm
The dispute revolves around Kitale Municipality Block 32/2, formerly Land Reference No. 6624, which Vipul allegedly re-surveyed into 118 smaller plots without following due legal process.
This was done even after Justice Mwangi Njoroge directed that no further transactions take place pending the determination of Civil Suit ELCLC No. 22 of 2023 and Case No. 11 of 2019, both involving the businessman and local politician MCA Eric Wafula.
Court documents show that the land was originally owned by one Avir Kanti Shah, who was not legally eligible to acquire freehold land under Kenyan law. Despite this, Vipul claimed to have “bought the property” from Shah, only for the court to dismiss his application to be joined as a plaintiff in 2024, terming it “an abuse of the process of the court.”
Bribery, Political Ties and Case Withdrawal
Sources allege that following the unfavorable ruling, Vipul turned to bribery and political influence to save his empire. He reportedly reached out to Phanice Khatundi, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, offering a KSh 2 million “deposit” to facilitate the withdrawal of the case, and later an additional KSh 10 million after the case was dropped.
In return, Vipul is said to have promised to channel KSh 1 million monthly to fund activities linked to the Tawe Movement, a political outfit associated with Governor George Natembeya’s camp in Western Kenya.
“The manner in which the case was withdrawn raised eyebrows even within the county administration. It was too sudden and suspiciously convenient,” a senior official told The Informant on condition of anonymity.
Exploitation and Intimidation Allegations
In a disturbing twist, the tycoon also faces accusations of attempting to exploit a female neighbor caught in a separate land dispute, allegedly offering her “sexual favors and monetary rewards” in exchange for silence. Locals claim this behavior fits a pattern of coercion and abuse of power by the businessman, who has built a reputation for using wealth to manipulate victims and evade justice.
National Lands Commission Under Scrutiny
Investigators are now probing whether Ramji bribed officials within the National Lands Commission (NLC) to secure documents validating his illegal holdings. One name repeatedly mentioned is David Kipchore, the NLC county coordinator for Trans Nzoia, who allegedly authored a letter declaring the disputed parcel “not public land,” a move now under audit.
Legal experts note that if proven, Vipul’s actions violate Section 26(6) of the Land Registration Act, 2012, which allows cancellation of titles obtained “illegally, unprocedurally, or through a corrupt scheme.”
Links to Tax Evasion
Beyond the land saga, Vipul is also linked to Cheresam Wholesalers, a Kitale-based company allegedly involved in large-scale tax evasion and smuggling of imported goods. Authorities believe proceeds from these operations fund political activities and bribes to keep the tycoon’s illicit empire intact.
Growing Public Outrage
Residents and civil society groups in Trans Nzoia have demanded a comprehensive investigation into the scandal, accusing local authorities of protecting “a billionaire land thief.” Calls are mounting for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to reopen the case and seize the illegally acquired property.
“This is not just a land dispute; it’s a classic case of corruption, sexual exploitation, and abuse of power. The law must apply equally to the rich and the poor,” said an activist from the Trans Nzoia Accountability Network.
As investigations continue, questions linger about how one man managed to bend court rulings, silence complainants, and continue expanding his real estate empire under the noses of law enforcement.
If the claims are verified, the Vipul Ratital case could become one of the most brazen examples yet of how money and political connections continue to subvert justice in Kenya’s counties.
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