Former journalist John Mugo Njeru and his wife, Editor Irima Mugo, have pleaded not guilty to 12 criminal charges linked to the alleged fraudulent acquisition of a parcel of land valued at Ksh1.176 billion in Syokimau, Machakos County.
The two appeared before Mavoko Resident Magistrate Faith Boit, where they denied charges of conspiracy to defraud, making false documents, obtaining land registration by false pretences, forgery and uttering forged documents.
According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that the offences relate to Nairobi Block 165/1314, a 3.775-hectare parcel of land said to belong to Kyoga Hauliers Limited.
The State claims the couple fraudulently procured registration of the property by preparing and relying on false land records, including a purported Grant and Deed Plan. Prosecutors further allege that the disputed documents bore forged signatures purported to belong to several former Lands and Survey officials, including former Commissioner of Lands Zablon Agwata Mabea, land registrars F.N. Orare and P.N. Mburu, and surveyors Ben Siro and Gitau.
John Mugo also faces two additional counts of uttering forged documents. The prosecution alleges that on June 3, 2026, he knowingly presented the disputed Grant documents to detectives at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters in Nairobi while aware they were forged.
Before plea-taking, defence counsel Philemon Koech urged the court to defer the proceedings, informing the magistrate that the parties had initiated discussions aimed at resolving the dispute out of court.
“There are engagements between the parties, and we ask the court to allow that process to continue before plea is taken,” Koech submitted.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that there was no basis for postponing the plea.
After the charges were read, both accused denied all counts. The defence subsequently applied for their release on lenient bond terms, stating that the couple had honoured police summons voluntarily and that their detention had left their minor child unattended at home.
The court deferred the bond application and directed probation officers to prepare pre-bail reports before determining whether the accused should be released pending trial.
