[2008] KEHC 697 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff was the confirmed administrator of the estate of Nahashon Gichine Mwai and entitled to register transmissions over the deceased's properties. The only impediment to registration was a caution by the first defendant, who claimed a right as a licensee but did not oppose the action or...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2008] KEHC 697 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Beatrice Ngima Mwai; Defendant: Gichine Mwai; Defendant: The Land Registrar, Kirinyaga Land Registry
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nyeri
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 18 of 2008
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Judgment
- Outcome
- Plaintiff's claim allowed; orders granted as prayed.
- Judges
- MM Kasango
- Legal Topics
- Land Administration, Probate and Administration, Transmission of Title
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Beatrice Ngima Mwai
Plaintiff
Gichine Mwai
Defendant
The Land Registrar, Kirinyaga Land Registry
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff, as administrator of the estate of Nahashon Gichine Mwai, is entitled to be registered as proprietor of Land Title No. Kiine/Kiangai/33.
- 2 Whether the land registrar can be compelled to register the transmission in favour of the plaintiff despite a caution lodged by the first defendant.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiff was the confirmed administrator of the estate of Nahashon Gichine Mwai and entitled to register transmissions over the deceased's properties. The only impediment to registration was a caution by the first defendant, who claimed a right as a licensee but did not oppose the action or provide evidence of a superior claim. The court held that the administrator's right to register the property in trust for the beneficiaries, as per the confirmed grant, superseded the caution. There being no valid opposition or legal basis to deny registration, the court granted the orders sought by the plaintiff.
Court Disposition
Plaintiff's claim allowed; orders granted as prayed.
Orders
- An order is issued compelling the land registrar, Kirinyaga land registry, to register the transmission made in favour of Beatrice Ngima Mwai as administrator of the estate of Nahashon Gichine Mwai over land Title No. Kiine/Kiangai/33.
- The plaintiff is awarded costs of the suit against the two respondents.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
16 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NYERI
Civil Case 18 of 2008 (OS)
BEATRICE NGIMA MWAI ………………....……............……………………. PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
1. GICHINE MWAI
2. THE LAND REGISTRAR, KIRINYAGA LAND REGISTR....... DEFENDANT
JUDGMENT
The plaintiff Beatrice Ngima Mwai filed this action seeking an order to compel the land registrar Kirinyaga land registry to register the transmission made in her favour as administrator of the estate of the late Nahashon Gichine Mwai deceased over Land Title No. Kiine/Kiangai/33. The originating summons was served on the respondent and at the date of hearing of this action the respondents had not filed any documents in opposition. The first respondent was present and requested that he be allowed to instruct an advocate to represent him. That was the only response he made to the action. The action was therefore unopposed. The plaintiff stated that her late husband died on 17th August 2004. A grant was issued to her in respect of that estate and was later confirmed in the terms that she was to be registered as the sole administrator of the estate and the properties thereof she was to hold in trust for the benefit of the children. She attempted to register the transmission as an administrator over the properties of the deceased and she was successful in all of them except the property in this matter. No reason was given to her for failure to register that transmission. Later she found that registration was rejected because there was a caution put by the first respondent claiming to have the right as a licensee. Subsequent to that the plaintiff made many visit to the land registry but was unsuccessful in having the registration. She therefore prayed that the court will grant the prayers that are sought.
I have considered the plaintiff’s action and as stated it is unopposed. The plaintiff from the documents annexed to the action clearly shows that she is the administrator of the property in this action. She is to be registered as a trustee for the children of the deceased. There is no reason why this court should not grant the prayers that are sought by the plaintiff. The judgment of this court is as follows:-
1. That an order be and hereby issued Compelling the land registrar, Kirinyaga land registry to register the transmission made in favour of Beatrice Ngima Mwai as the administrator of the estate of Nahashon Gichine Mwai deceased over land Title No. Kiine/Kiangai/33.
2. The plaintiff is awarded costs of this suitas against the two respondents.
Dated and delivered at Nyeri this 22nd day of October 2008.
MARY KASANGO
JUDGE