The man behind the offer was George Wachiuri, CEO of Optiven Limited. Customers, some investing from abroad, were told the greenhouses were a solid agribusiness opportunity.
But the dream collapsed. According to court documents , Wachiuri “soon discovered that the greenhouses were nothing more than a deception, leaving customers, including those who had invested millions, frustrated and disillusioned.
The Legal Fallout
Realizing the scale of the problem, Optiven reported the matter to authorities. What followed was a “prolonged legal battle that spanned over four years.
The case triggered a class action-style pressure from investors who demanded refunds. Court documents and reports at the time referenced similar greenhouse scams in Kenya — notably the Goldenscape case where 80 investors sued for Sh570M over fake tree and greenhouse ventures promising 340% returns. While that suit targeted Peter Muriithi Wangai and Goldenscape, Wachiuri’s case drew parallels because it involved the same model: high-return greenhouse investments that failed to materialize.
The Sh200 Million Refund
Faced with the fallout, Wachiuri moved to salvage Optiven’s reputation. The company says it took a Sh200 million loan “to repay every single customer their invested funds”.
In public statements reports,Wachiuri framed it as a commitment to uphold customer trust after discovering the greenhouse venture was fraudulent. The refund drive was positioned as voluntary restitution rather than a court-ordered payout, though it came amid pressure from affected investors and regulators.
Context: Kenya’s Greenhouse Scam Wave
Wachiuri’s case emerged during a wider crackdown on agribusiness fraud. The Financial Reporting Centre flagged schemes where Ksh1.4 billion was lost to fake greenhouse deals promising Ksh380,000 investments to return Ksh1.29 million in 3 years.
Optiven mainatained it was a victim of third-party deception in the greenhouse supply chain, not the architect of the scam. But for investors, the distinction mattered little until the refunds started coming in.
But Mr. Wachiuri seems not to have learnt his lessons. As we speak , A Class Action Suit has been filed at Kiambu High Court by Peter Mulati Nabiswa seeking to have Optiven Limited stopped from deducting money from customers’ deposits using clauses contained in unsigned agreements for sale.
Peter Mulati Nabiswa has filed the suit on his own behalf and as a representative of hundreds, and potentially thousands, of customers whom he says were subjected to a similar practice by the real estate company.
The plaintiff alleges Optiven’s conduct amounts to false or misleading representation, unconscionable conduct, unjust enrichment and fraudulent or negligent misrepresentation.