Nairobi, April 12 -- Edward Ruiru Maina, a businessman behind Ndibithi Farmers Company Ltd, has been charged with seven fraud counts related to a 5,000-acre parcel of land in the Ndabibi, Naivasha.

Mr Maina has been accused of trying to grab the vast land from Anointed Valley Company, forging ownership documents, obtaining Sh200,000 from Stanley Kariuki under the pretext of selling a 0.5-acre parcel and perjury for allegedly giving false testimony in a past court case over ownership of the property.

The land has been the subject of controversy over several months, with Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara last month insisting that President William Ruto purchased the prime property from Benjamin Kipkulei.

Mr Kipkulei, who was an aide of late presi...