A storm is brewing in Nairobi’s affluent Westlands area after a powerful businessman, Adan Haji Isaack, was accused of unleashing hired goons on a respected law professor in a brazen attempt to seize prime land valued at tens of millions of shillings.
According to a report filed at the Spring Valley Police Station, Isaack allegedly mobilized a gang of armed men who descended on the property along Peponi Road, terrorizing occupants and driving away the rightful owner, Professor Lumumba Nyaberi — a 60-year-old lecturer and seasoned lawyer at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
Police have launched investigations into the incident, which has shocked residents of the leafy suburb and reignited concerns about the growing wave of land grabbing by politically connected businessmen in the capital.
A Professor Under Siege
Sources close to the victim say Professor Nyaberi’s troubles began after he resisted attempts by a group of alleged land speculators to take over his 1.2-acre property. The parcel sits on one of the most sought-after streets in Westlands — a location that has in recent years attracted both investors and opportunists.
What started as a routine property dispute soon turned ugly. Witnesses say that early this month, a group of men believed to be hired goons invaded the compound, intimidating workers and blocking access to the premises. Some were reportedly armed with machetes and crude weapons.
“They told everyone to leave and claimed the land now belonged to someone else,” said a neighbor who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.
The professor has since been forced to move out for his safety, even as he insists on defending his legal ownership through the courts.
A Pattern of Intimidation
Investigators are now piecing together evidence that could link Isaack and his associates to a broader network of cartels notorious for manipulating land records and using violence to evict legitimate owners.
Police sources confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has been briefed on the matter and is expected to determine whether Isaack and his co-accused will face charges of trespass, assault, and malicious damage to property under the Penal Code.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Isaack remains a free man, a situation that has sparked outrage among the legal fraternity and residents of Peponi Road. Many have accused law enforcement of dragging their feet because of the businessman’s wealth and connections.
Foreign Connection
Adding a new twist to the scandal, investigators have also identified a Ghanaian national known as Eric, who is believed to have sided with Isaack in the attempted land takeover. Sources allege that Eric has been acting as an intermediary, fronting for the Somali businessman in questionable property transactions across Nairobi.
The involvement of a foreign player has raised suspicions of a wider syndicate targeting high-value real estate through intimidation and forged documents.
Public Outcry and Calls for Action
Human rights activists and legal professionals are now calling on the government to move swiftly to protect property owners from such acts of impunity.
“This is not just a private land dispute,” said one lawyer familiar with the case. “It is a test of whether the justice system can stand up to individuals who use money and muscle to steal property from law-abiding citizens.”
Residents of Westlands have also urged the Ministry of Lands and the DPP to treat the case as a matter of public interest, warning that continued inaction could embolden criminal cartels that have turned land grabbing into a profitable enterprise.
A Test of Justice
As the investigation unfolds, all eyes are now on the Director of Public Prosecutions and the National Police Service to see whether the accused will finally be brought to justice.
For Professor Nyaberi, the fight is far from over. He says he will not be silenced or intimidated into giving up what is rightfully his.
“I have faith that justice will prevail,” he told close associates. “This is not just about me — it is about the rule of law and protecting every Kenyan’s right to own property.”
If charges are approved, Adan Haji Isaack could soon find himself in court facing serious accusations of trespass, intimidation, and unlawful eviction — crimes that expose the dark underbelly of land corruption in Nairobi’s high-end estates.
