[2024] KEELC 13245 (KLR)

[2024] KEELC 13245 (KLR)

The court found that the plaintiffs, through their advocates, unequivocally rescinded the sale agreement by demanding a refund of the purchase price after the transaction was frustrated by a caution lodged by a third party. The defendants responded by depositing the purchase price with their advocates for the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2024] KEELC 13245 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Lorna Jemutai Cherono; Plaintiff: Simeon Chebii; Defendant: Stephen Maiyo (Suing as the Administrator of the Estate of David Oito Maiyo); Defendant: Stephen Maiyo; Defendant: Jackson K Kibor; Defendant: Uasin Gishu District Land Registrar; Defendant: Attorney General
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Eldoret
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Environment & Land Case 480 of 2013
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Judgment
Outcome
Plaintiffs' suit dismissed with costs to the defendants. Partial refund of purchase price ordered.
Judges
JM Onyango
Legal Topics
Rescission of Contract, Specific Performance, Land Sale Agreements, Registration of Titles, Trespass to Land, Lis Pendens
Source Language
en
Land and Property Civil Procedure Rescission of Contract Specific Performance Land Sale Agreements Registration of Titles Trespass to Land Lis Pendens

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Parties

Lorna Jemutai Cherono

Plaintiff

Simeon Chebii

Plaintiff

Stephen Maiyo (Suing as the Administrator of the Estate of David Oito Maiyo)

Defendant

Stephen Maiyo

Defendant

Jackson K Kibor

Defendant

Uasin Gishu District Land Registrar

Defendant

Attorney General

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Environment and Land Case / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the sale agreement dated 12th January 2004 was validly rescinded by the plaintiffs.
  2. 2 Whether the 1st plaintiff is entitled to the reliefs sought in the plaint, including specific performance, cancellation of titles, and injunction.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the plaintiffs, through their advocates, unequivocally rescinded the sale agreement by demanding a refund of the purchase price after the transaction was frustrated by a caution lodged by a third party. The defendants responded by depositing the purchase price with their advocates for the plaintiffs, thereby restoring the parties to their pre-contractual positions. The court held that once a contract is rescinded and restitution is made or offered, neither party can claim specific performance or other contractual remedies. Since the property was never registered in the plaintiffs' names, no proprietary interest passed to them, and their claims for specific...

Court Disposition

Plaintiffs' suit dismissed with costs to the defendants. Partial refund of purchase price ordered.

Orders

  • The plaintiffs' suit is dismissed with costs to the defendants.
  • The 2nd defendant is ordered to refund the plaintiffs Kshs.185,000 being half the amount deposited with Terer & Co. Advocates, together with interest at court rates from the time of filing suit.