Lawyers representing two companies have petitioned the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to investigate alleged fraud, collusion and unlawful disposal of their clients’ properties in transactions involving ABSA Bank Kenya Limited and several auctioneers and companies.
In a letter dated August 26, 2026, Danstan Omari and Associates Advocates, acting for Kimani Operations Limited and Kimani Ventures Limited, alleged serious irregularities surrounding loan facilities advanced by ABSA Bank and the subsequent exercise of the bank’s statutory power of sale.
The advocates claim their clients obtained several loan facilities between 2021 and 2022, secured against various properties in Nairobi and elsewhere, with the facilities running into hundreds of millions of shillings.
According to the lawyers, ABSA advertised the sale of some of the properties by public auction on July 7, 2025. However, they allege that no lawful auction took place, citing the Saba Saba demonstrations on the same day, which they say severely restricted access to Nairobi and made the purported auction venue inaccessible to members of the public.
The advocates have questioned whether bidders were present and whether genuine competitive bidding took place, alleging that the sale could have been a pre-arranged disposal disguised as a public auction.
The lawyers have also raised concerns over companies they say were incorporated shortly before the disputed auction.
They cite Astralis Verge Limited, incorporated in May 2025, and Samatar Solutions Limited, incorporated in June 2025, as entities whose involvement in the transactions requires investigation.
Further questions have been raised over the alleged participation of Serah Njeri Wamwea, whom the lawyers identify as both an auctioneer involved in the process and one of the successful bidders. They also point to the location of her business premises and the registered premises of Fancy Friends Auctioneers as matters requiring scrutiny.
The advocates say their clients have not been furnished with documents they consider necessary to establish that a genuine auction occurred, including an attendance register, bidding register, reserve price, memorandum of sale, proof of payment and bank records showing receipt of the alleged purchase price.
They have additionally alleged that some of the properties were deliberately undervalued, causing financial loss to their clients.
The letter further states that another purported auction was initiated on July 30, 2025, involving L.R. No. 36/11/350 in Eastleigh, Nairobi, raising questions over why a second auction was necessary following the earlier alleged sale.
Despite the alleged disposal of several securities, the lawyers claim ABSA continues to demand approximately 394.8 million shillings from their clients.
The advocates have also accused the bank and persons acting on its behalf of taking possession of some properties and collecting rent from them. They allege that threats and intimidation followed after their clients moved to court to challenge the possession and purported sales.
Danstan Omari and Associates Advocates are now calling for comprehensive and independent criminal investigations into ABSA Bank and its officers, P.M. Gachie trading as Regent Auctioneers, Samatar Solutions Limited, Astralis Verge Limited, Fancy Friends Auctioneers and Serah Njeri Wamwea, among others.
The lawyers want investigators to examine the companies’ ownership and beneficial ownership, financial transactions, incorporation records, communications and their alleged involvement in the disputed property auctions.
