Nairobi – A group of Italian nationals who live and invest along Kenya’s coast has raised fresh concerns about rising land disputes, property losses and protracted legal battles, particularly in Kilifi and Malindi.
The latest case involves 78‑year‑old Armando Tanzini, a Kenyan of Italian descent, who faces fraud charges over a 4.5‑hectare parcel in Chembe/Kibabamshe, Kilifi County, valued at approximately Sh165 million. Court documents allege that Tanzini, together with Pijev Investments Limited, obtained the land’s registration in 1994 by using a forged power of attorney.
Tanzini has denied the allegations. The dispute has a long legal history, encompassing several civil and administrative proceedings. In September 2023, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) recommended closing the criminal investigation, noting that the matter was already before the Malindi Environment and Land Court (Case No. 17 of 2021). The ODPP argued that criminal proceedings should not interfere with ongoing civil litigation, especially after a 2011 judgment that favoured Pijev Investments.
Despite the earlier recommendation, prosecutors filed charges in August 2025 and invited a review of the decision. Defence counsel questioned the basis for the new charges, stating that the earlier determination found insufficient evidence for prosecution. “The decision to charge… was made without reviewing the evidence,” the lawyers said, adding that the prosecution referred to undisclosed “new evidence.”
The defence further contended that the alleged offence dates back to 1994, making the delay in reporting unexplained, and that the evidence does not meet the threshold for a reasonable prospect of conviction for forgery. Records from a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) inquiry present competing narratives: complainants claim the land belonged to a deceased relative and was fraudulently transferred, while documents presented by the accused assert that the property was acquired through corporate transactions in the early 1990s. A document examiner’s report highlighted inconsistencies in signatures and the disputed power of attorney, and noted that several key individuals involved in the original transaction are now deceased, complicating the factual record.
The Tanzini case has become a focal point for broader anxieties within the Italian community in Kilifi and Malindi. Investors say they have encountered multiple overlapping civil and criminal disputes over land ownership, leading to loss of property, lengthy litigation and uncertainty about investment security. Representatives have urged Kenyan authorities to review land‑related cases involving foreign nationals and to clarify the interaction between criminal and civil processes.
The developments occur as Kenya seeks to attract foreign investment. President William Ruto, speaking at the Italy‑Kenya Business Forum in Rome, described Kenya as one of Africa’s investment hotspots and encouraged Italian investors to explore opportunities in the country. He highlighted Kenya’s renewable‑energy profile, democratic institutions and the protection offered by the Kenyan judicial system, citing the bilateral investment treaty and double‑taxation avoidance agreement with Italy.
While the Tanzini matter remains pending before the courts, it underscores the complexity of land disputes on the Kenyan coast, where historic claims, succession issues and administrative decisions frequently intersect. The outcome may influence how future land‑ownership conflicts involving foreign investors are handled.
