[2017] KEELC 2863 (KLR)
The court found that the suit parcel, Plot No. Kakamega/Chekalini/577, was registered in the name of the deceased, Hesbon Amboga Kikaya, and that the plaintiffs were the lawful administrators of the estate. The court held that, under Section 71 of the Law of Succession Act, no person may intermeddle with the estate...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2017] KEELC 2863 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Aggrey Liyosi Kikaya; Applicant: Violet Murengeka Garash; Defendant: Ernest Bochete; Defendant: Simon Wambomba; Defendant: Kunguni Waindaba; Defendant: Michael Onacho; Defendant: Abegael Muhonja; Defendant: Eliakim Kibisu; Defendant: Henry Kikaya
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Eldoret
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 50 of 2013
- Procedural Posture
- Land and Property Suit / Judgment
- Outcome
- Plaintiffs' suit allowed. Defendants to be evicted. Permanent injunction granted. Costs and interest awarded to plaintiffs.
- Judges
- A Ombwayo
- Legal Topics
- Succession Disputes, Eviction, Permanent Injunction, Illegal Occupation, Estate Distribution
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Aggrey Liyosi Kikaya
Applicant
Violet Murengeka Garash
Applicant
Ernest Bochete
Defendant
Simon Wambomba
Defendant
Kunguni Waindaba
Defendant
Michael Onacho
Defendant
Abegael Muhonja
Defendant
Eliakim Kibisu
Defendant
Henry Kikaya
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Land and Property Suit / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the defendants are illegally occupying Plot No. Kakamega/Chekalini/577 belonging to the estate of the deceased.
- 2 Whether the plaintiffs, as legal representatives, are entitled to eviction and permanent injunction orders against the defendants.
- 3 Whether the transaction leading to the defendants' occupation was valid under succession law.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the suit parcel, Plot No. Kakamega/Chekalini/577, was registered in the name of the deceased, Hesbon Amboga Kikaya, and that the plaintiffs were the lawful administrators of the estate. The court held that, under Section 71 of the Law of Succession Act, no person may intermeddle with the estate of a deceased individual prior to lawful distribution. The defendants' occupation of the land, based on a purported purchase from one beneficiary without the consent of all beneficiaries or a lawful distribution, constituted unlawful intermeddling. The court concluded that the plaintiffs had proved their case on a balance of probabilities and were entitled to eviction and a...
Court Disposition
Plaintiffs' suit allowed. Defendants to be evicted. Permanent injunction granted. Costs and interest awarded to plaintiffs.
Orders
- Defendants to be evicted from Plot No. Kakamega/Chekalini/577 measuring 8 acres.
- Permanent injunction issued restraining defendants, their agents or servants from entering Plot No. Kakamega/Chekalini/577.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
24 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT OF KENYA AT ELDORET
E & L CASE NO. 50 OF 2013
AGGREY LIYOSI KIKAYA
VIOLET MURENGEKA GARASH (Suing as the representatives of
the Estate of the lateHESBON KIKAYA AMBOGA.....APPLICANTS
VERSUS
ERNEST BOCHETE……………..…………...............1ST DEFENDANT
SIMON WAMBOMBA…………………………....…..2ND DEFENDANT
KUNGUNI WAINDABA…………………………...…..3RD DEFENDANT
MICHAEL ONACHO…………………………..........…4TH DEFENDANT
ABEGAEL MUHONJA……...………………...............5TH DEFENDANT
ELIAKIM KIBISU……………………………...…........6TH DEFENDANT
HENRY KIKAYA…………………………………..…...7TH DEFENDANT
JUDGMENT
The plaintiffs are the legal representative of the Estate of Hesbon Kikaya Amboga who has sued the defendants claiming that the deceased passed away on 20th December, 2001 leaving behind 7 dependents among them the plaintiffs. He also left behind a vast estate among them is the Plot No. Kakamega/Chekalini/577 measuring 8 acres. That the 8th defendant is also one of the beneficiaries of the estate of the deceased.
The plaintiffs claim that when confirmation of the grant was done, it was agreed that Plot No. Kakamega/Chekalini/577 measuring 8 acres be divided into 2 acres each to the sons of the deceased. That the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th defendants entered and occupied part of the suit land without the knowledge of the plaintiffs and upon interrogation they said that they bought the land from the 8th defendant. That after confirmation, the beneficiaries have never sat as a family and caused the land to be surveyed so as to allocate each beneficiary his respective piece of land.
The plaintiff’s claim against the defendants is for eviction and permanent injunction because the defendants are occupying the land illegally as the transaction leading to their acquisition was itself illegal. That the plaintiffs rely on the maxim “Caveat emtor”. Lastly, the plaintiffs pray for costs of this suit and interest at court rates.
PW1, Aggrey Kikaya testified that he is based in Mombasa doing business. He knows Violet Murengeka Garash. He has sued eight defendants. He knows Earnest Bochete. He knows Simon Wambomba. He knows Kunguni Waindaba and he does not know Michael Onacho very well. He knows Abegael Muhonja and also knows Eliakim Kibisu and Henry Kikaya. The parcel of land is known as Kakamega/Chekalini/577. The land belongs to his late father, Hesbon Kikaya Amboga who passed away in 2002. He produced the land Certificate for title No. Kakamega/Chekalini/577. He produced the letters of administration issued on 12. 6.2003 as evidence that the administrators of the Estate of deceased are himself and Violet Murengeka Garash. He produced the Certificate of Confirmation as PEx.3. He has authority to give evidence on behalf of his sister. He produced a letter from Violet Murengeka Garash as PEx.4. He has sued the 8 defendants because they are illegally on the shamba. He went to the shamba in 2009 and found the people on the land. They are not members of their family. Henry Kikaya is their youngest brother.
According to the schedule of property, all of them were to get 2 acres each. The 8th defendant is supposed to get 2 acres. They have not distributed the estate because of intruders. The 8th defendant is not an intruder as he is their brother. He prays for the reliefs sought in the plaint with costs.
I have considered the evidence on record and do find that the suit parcel is registered in the names of Hesbon Amboga Kikaya (deceased). The legal representative of the Estate of the deceased are the plaintiffs. Section 71 of the Law of Succession Act provides that there should be no intermeddling with the Estate of a deceased person. I do find that the plaintiff has proved his case on balance of probabilities that the defendants are intermeddling with the deceased’s property and therefore, do grant prayers that the defendants be evicted from Plot No. Kakamega/Chekalini/577 measuring 8 acres. Moreover, I do grant a Permanent injunction against the defendants, their agents or servants from entering Plot No. Kakamega/Chekalini/577. Costs of this suit and interest at court rates are awarded to the plaintiff. Orders accordingly.
DATED AND DELIVERED AT ELDORET THIS 22ND DAY OF MARCH, 2017.
A. OMBWAYO
JUDGE