By Nuru Salim
A Kenya-Germany resident has accused his former partner of fraudulently removing his name from a jointly owned title deed, effectively locking him out of a Sh14 million property located in Ukunda, Kwale County.
Through his lawyer, Sibabu Ali Mwamjibu told the court that on August 14, 2023, Valerine Achieng Opondo allegedly went to the Kwale County Land Registry and forged his signature on transfer and consent application forms to have his name deleted from the title. He claimed that he never signed the documents and that the signatures presented were forgeries.
The disputed parcel, which houses property, valued at Sh14 million, measures 0.048 hectares. Mwamjibu said the land was purchased in 2017 while he was in Germany, at a cost of KSh350,000, with the understanding that both their names would be included in the register.
He stated that he entrusted Opondo with handling the process due to the cost of traveling.
According to him, they later constructed a house on the plot, with most of the financing coming from loans he obtained in Germany. In 2021, after repeated requests, a new title was issued in both their names.
He alleged that Opondo later moved between the Kwale County Land Registry, the Land Control Board, and the Department of Physical Planning to facilitate the removal of his name without his consent. The matter came to light when both were summoned to the Lands Office on April 18, 2024, where, according to him, Opondo admitted to signing on his behalf. He further stated that she has since blocked him from accessing the property and has been living there alone.
Mwamjibu is seeking a court order for an independent valuation of the property, and for Opondo to either pay him 50 percent of its value, allow him to buy her out, or alternatively, for the property to be sold and the proceeds shared equally.
Opondo denies all allegations, stating that she purchased the land in 2016 from one Ramadhan Hassan Mwapesa and has been its sole developer since 2018. She maintains that she obtained construction approvals from the County Physical Planner and the District Public Health Officer before moving into the incomplete house in 2019.
She further claims that Mwamjibu had previously taught her his signature to execute documents in his absence and alleges that he consented to the 2021 transfer.
The case, involving contested ownership of the property valued at Sh14 million, is scheduled for hearing on February 10, 2025.
