Italian Investors in Kenya Raise Alarm Over Coastal Land Disputes, Legal Battles
Nairobi, Kenya — A growing number of Italian nationals living and investing along Kenya’s picturesque coastline are voicing frustration over what they describe as worsening land conflicts, lost properties, and drawn-out court cases. The disputes, centered in Kilifi and Malindi, have cast a shadow over Kenya’s push to attract foreign investment, with one high-profile case now making headlines.
At the heart of the controversy is 78-year-old Armando Tanzini, a Kenyan of Italian descent, who faces fraud charges over a Sh165 million ($1.2 million) land dispute in Kilifi County. Prosecutors allege Tanzini and Pijev Investments Limited secured ownership of the Chembe/Kibabamshe property in 1994 using a forged power of attorney—a claim he denies.
A Decades-Old Legal Quagmire
Court records reveal a tangled history of litigation, with civil and criminal proceedings overlapping for years. In September 2023, Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) initially recommended closing investigations, citing an active civil case (Malindi Environment and Land Court Case No. 17 of 2021). The ODPP stressed that criminal charges should not disrupt ongoing civil disputes, especially since a 2011 ruling had favored Tanzini’s company.
Yet, in an unexpected turn, prosecutors reversed course in August 2025, opting to pursue criminal charges. Tanzini’s legal team has since challenged the move, arguing that the decision was made without reviewing key evidence. “The prosecution refers to new evidence but fails to disclose it,” his lawyers stated in court filings. They also highlight the three-decade delay in reporting the alleged forgery, questioning the timing.
Conflicting Claims and Fading Evidence
The dispute hinges on competing narratives. One side claims the land belonged to a deceased relative and was fraudulently transferred, while Tanzini’s camp maintains it was acquired legally through corporate transactions in the early 1990s.
Investigators face hurdles: forensic examiners flagged inconsistencies in signatures on the contested power of attorney, but crucial witnesses have since passed away. “Establishing a clear account is nearly impossible after 30 years,” a legal source familiar with the case told Nexio News.
Broader Concerns for Foreign Investors
The Tanzini case has become emblematic of wider frustrations among Italian expatriates in Kilifi and Malindi. Many say they’ve faced similar battles—lengthy court fights, conflicting rulings, and uncertainty over property rights. Some fear these disputes undermine Kenya’s reputation as an investment-friendly destination.
Their concerns clash with President William Ruto’s recent pitch to Italian businesses. Speaking at an Italy-Kenya business forum in Rome this week, Ruto touted Kenya’s renewable energy sector, judicial safeguards, and bilateral treaties. “Kenya is the best place to deploy investments,” he declared, emphasizing protections against double taxation.
Yet for some Italian investors, the reality on the ground feels less secure. “We need clarity on how land disputes are handled,” said one Kilifi-based entrepreneur, speaking anonymously due to ongoing legal matters. “Without it, confidence erodes.”
What Comes Next?
As Tanzini’s case inches forward, legal experts say it underscores systemic challenges in Kenya’s coastal land ownership—where colonial-era records, inheritance disputes, and bureaucratic delays often collide.
For now, the courts will decide whether the fraud case proceeds. But for Kenya’s leaders, the bigger test may be reassuring foreign investors that their assets are truly safe.
— Reported by Nexio News
