Mount Kenya University (MKU) is embroiled in a new legal dispute after allegedly falling victim to a fraudulent land transaction involving British national Vallabh Haribhai Bakrania, who is accused of defrauding the institution of Sh20 million in 2020.
Bakrania, who appeared in court on November 27, 2020, is alleged to have misrepresented his ability to sell a 0.0602-hectare plot in Nairobi’s Industrial Area, a claim he reportedly knew was false. He was granted a Sh1 million bond after denying the charges.
Previous Controversies and Legal History ¶
This is not the first time Bakrania has faced scrutiny. In 2019, he became a focal point of national security concerns after a private investigator alleged her life was threatened while assisting him with confiscated travel documents and assets. The investigator claimed she faced obstruction from senior police officials during her inquiry.
MKU’s legal troubles extend beyond this case. In 2011, the university entered a verbal agreement with Step Up Holdings to establish a Nakuru campus in Kericho, which later led to a Sh511 million court ruling against MKU. The court found the university liable for illegally taking over the campus, displacing 3,807 students and 295 staff.
Questions Over Institutional Oversight ¶
The university’s legal department has come under scrutiny for failing to conduct proper due diligence on Bakrania. Critics question whether the institution’s repeated land-related legal issues stem from negligence or a pattern of risky ventures.
Step Up Holdings, owned by Bernard Gikunda Mwarania, has consistently challenged MKU’s claims. Court records from 2012 reveal the university’s failed attempt to push the dispute into arbitration, which was ultimately dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between MKU and private entities, raising concerns about transparency in institutional decision-making and the potential for repeated legal vulnerabilities.
