Controversial businessman and philanthropist Eric Munene Mate is once again in the spotlight following the return of a long running dispute over a Nairobi land transaction valued at Ksh 40 million, placing the Wiselinks Foundation CEO at the centre of a case that shows how high value property deals in the city can collapse long after payments are made, leaving buyers trapped between convincing paperwork, physical possession that appears legitimate and ownership that never transfers.
Court records show that the case before the Milimani Law Courts relates to a parcel of land identified as LR 209 10991 IR 45896 in Imara Daima, Nairobi County, measuring about 0.0590 hectares, where funds were paid to parties presented as lawful owners on the strength of documents that mirrored official land registry records, only for the transaction to stall before registration was completed and the promised transfer brought to a halt.
The filings further indicate that Eric Munene Mate was charged alongside Kelvin Mugambi Muthee in connection with dealings that persuaded Placid View Limited to release funds for the Imara Daima parcel after being presented with a certificate of title represented as authentic and traceable to the Ministry Of Lands, Housing And Urban Development, a document that prosecutors say was used to advance a transfer process that never reached registration.
The transaction, which unfolded more than two years ago, moved from negotiation to payment on the strength of paperwork that followed official formats and descriptions, a sequence that later left the buyer without legal ownership once the land failed to change hands through the registry.
The charges before the court set out a narrative in which the buyer loss stood at about Ksh 40 million, reflecting both the purchase price and related transaction costs, an amount that places the dispute among the higher value land cases currently moving through the Milimani court system.
When he appeared before the court, Mr Mate denied the charges and secured release on bond, with his legal team stating that the payment received arose from a lawful arrangement and that investigators misunderstood the nature and origin of the documents relied upon during the transaction.
The case has since progressed slowly through mentions and directions, with the court expected to examine title records, hear witness testimony, and review financial flows linked to the deal before determining responsibility.
Public attention around the proceedings has been sharpened by his role as CEO of Wiselinks Foundation, through which he has continued to project an image centred on youth empowerment, education support, and community engagement across several counties.
On his public platforms, he frequently showcases foundation activities such as sports tournaments and outreach events, framing them as efforts aimed at talent growth and social development, even as the land dispute remains unresolved within the criminal justice process.
The businessman is no stranger to legal conflicts, with one incident playing out in March 2025 in Karen, where his estranged wife, Mary Waithera Gikonyo, arrived at a contested multimillion-shilling residence armed with court orders affirming her ownership, only to be confronted by him, while brandished a firearm to intimidate her, prompting police officers to intervene and prevent escalation, while neighbours and passersby watched a tense standoff unfold over possession of the property.
The confrontation in Karen formed part of a broader, ongoing controversy between the two parties over multiple properties, with the businessman subsequently initiating legal proceedings against his estranged wife, filing claims that she unlawfully occupied or interfered with his assets, while Ms Waithera simultaneously pursued her own legal action to assert possession and ownership rights over the residence in question, resulting in parallel criminal and civil matters that have moved through the Kibera court and other judicial venues.
Court documents show that the matter remains unresolved, with the proceedings examining both the legitimacy of ownership claims and the conduct of the parties during attempts to assert control over the contested property.
With the latest developments in the Milimani land dispute still unfolding, Eric Munene Mate remains at the centre of intense attention, with the case exposing persistent vulnerabilities in Nairobi’s high-value property market and the complex intersections of personal, commercial, and legal interests, as courts prepare to examine evidence ranging from title documents to financial transfers while navigating testimony from buyers, intermediaries, and other parties involved in the Ksh 40 million Imara Daima transaction.
The proceedings are set to determine whether the sequence of payments, document transfers, and representations to the buyer followed lawful channels or created a situation in which funds were released without proper registration of ownership, leaving the land effectively outside the control of the purchaser
As the court sets timelines for witness testimonies, document examination, and financial reviews, the eventual outcome is likely to influence perceptions of reliability and transparency in Nairobi’s property market while determining the trajectory of Mate’s legal and public standing, with implications for how charitable organisations led by high-profile business figures navigate the intersection of community work and ongoing litigation.
We will be closely following the matter as it progresses, reporting on new developments, court directions, and any shifts in the presentation of evidence, providing readers with timely insight into a case that not only affects those directly involved but also serves as a lens through which to understand the challenges and risks that continue to shape Nairobi’s property transactions.
