Police have arrested a man who sold air to a buyer instead of a land parcel along the busy Nairobi–Mombasa highway, pocketing Sh2.4 million in a meticulously executed real estate scam.

Detectives based in Kalama Sub-County apprehended the suspect, David Maitha, who spent months masquerading under the stolen identity of “Joel Musembi Kiilu.”

Presenting himself as the legitimate owner of the lucrative property, Maitha backed up his claim with a forged National Identity Card and a fake title deed, both bearing the legitimate owner’s name.

Exercising due diligence, the unsuspecting buyer conducted an official search at the Machakos Land Registry.

The registry returned a green light confirming that the land indeed belonged to Joel Musembi Kiilu, unaware that the man standing before him was merely an impostor wearing a real owner’s credentials.

Convinced the deal was legitimate, the victim signed a sale agreement before a Machakos lawyer and handed over the Sh2.4 million payment.

The moment the funds were transferred, Maitha disappeared.

He stopped taking phone calls, dodged scheduled meetings, and cut off all contact just as post-sale transfer procedures were set to begin.

Realizing he had been defrauded, the buyer reported the matter to the police.

Investigations by Kalama detectives quickly unmasked the suspect’s true identity as David Maitha.

Following a covert, intelligence-led operation, police tracked down and arrested Maitha at Mtito Andei.

He remains in police custody undergoing processing ahead of his formal arraignment in court.