[2018] KEELC 2742 (KLR)
The court found that the Plaintiff had established, through unchallenged documentary evidence and occupation, that he was the rightful owner of Plot No. 750 Taveta Phase 1 Settlement Scheme. The Defendant failed to contest the suit despite proper service. The Plaintiff's evidence, including the letter of offer,...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEELC 2742 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Amos Mutungi; Defendant: Francis Njihia Chege
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Mombasa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 228 of 2016
- Procedural Posture
- Land and Property Suit / Judgment
- Outcome
- Judgment for the Plaintiff.
- Judges
- LC Komingoi
- Legal Topics
- Ownership Disputes, Title Registration, Land Allocation, Revocation of Title
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Amos Mutungi
Plaintiff
Francis Njihia Chege
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Land and Property Suit / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Plaintiff is the rightful owner of Plot No. 750 Taveta Phase 1 Settlement Scheme.
- 2 Whether the Defendant's name should be revoked from the title to the suit property.
- 3 Whether the Land Registrar should register the Plaintiff as the owner and issue a title deed.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the Plaintiff had established, through unchallenged documentary evidence and occupation, that he was the rightful owner of Plot No. 750 Taveta Phase 1 Settlement Scheme. The Defendant failed to contest the suit despite proper service. The Plaintiff's evidence, including the letter of offer, payment receipt, and map, was sufficient to prove allocation and entitlement to registration. The court held that the Plaintiff was entitled to a declaration of ownership, revocation of the Defendant's title, and registration as owner, with costs and interest awarded.
Court Disposition
Judgment for the Plaintiff.
Orders
- A declaration is issued that the Plaintiff is the rightful owner of Plot No. 750 Taveta Phase 1 Settlement Scheme.
- An order is issued to revoke and remove the Defendant’s name from the title to Plot No. 750 Taveta Phase 1 Settlement Scheme.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT
AT MOMBASA
ELC NO 228 OF 2016
AMOS MUTUNGI...................................PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
FRANCIS NJIHIA CHEGE.................DEFENDANT
JUDGMENT
1. The Plaintiff has filed this suit against the Defendant seeking:
a) A declaration to issue declaring the Plaintiff as the rightful owner of Plot No 750 Taveta Phase 1 Settlement Scheme.
b) An order to issue revoking and removing the Defendants’ name from Title to Plot No. 750 Taveta Phase 1 Settlement Scheme.
c) An order to issue directing the Land Registrar Wundanyi to register the Plaintiff as the owner and issue him with a title deed.
d) The court to be pleased to grant any other relief it thinks fit to grant.
e) The court to award costs and interest.
2. The Defendant who was duly served by way of advertisement in the Daily Nation Newspaper of 2nd December, 2016 neglected to enter appearance and/or file defence within the prescribed period. The Plaintiff set down the suit for hearing.
3. It is the Plaintiff’s case that he was allocated Plot No. 750 Taveta Phase 1 Settlement Scheme. He produced a letter of offer dated 25th may, 2012 as exhibit P1, payment receipt as exhibit P2 and a map sheet of the area as exhibit P3.
4. He was surprised when the plot was registered in the names of the Defendant. He went to the Land Registry and confirmed. He is in occupation of the said Plot. He is undertaking some farming on the same. He prays that the title deed issued to the Defendant be cancelled and that he (Plaintiff) be issued with a title deed.
5. I have considered the pleadings, the exhibits produced and the submissions on record. The Plaintiff’s case is uncontroverted. I find that he has proved his case as against the Defendant on a balance of probabilities.
6. I hereby enter judgment in favour of the Plaintiff as against the Defendant as follows:
a) That a declaration is hereby issued that the Plaintiff is the rightful owner of Plot No. 750 Taveta Phase 1 Settlement Scheme.
b) An order be and is hereby issued to revoke and remove the Defendant’s name from Title to Plot No. 750 Taveta Phase 1 Settlement Scheme.
c) An order be and is hereby issued directing the Land Registrar Wundanyi to register the Plaintiff as the owner and issue him with a title deed.
d) The Plaintiff do have costs of the suit and interest.
It is ordered.
Dated, Signed and Delivered at Mombasa on the 7th day of March 2018.
_____________
L. KOMINGOI
JUDGE
7/3/2018