[2020] KEELC 2745 (KLR)

[2020] KEELC 2745 (KLR)

The court found that the plaintiff, as administrator of the estate of Njoroge Thiaru, had established on a balance of probabilities that he paid the requisite sums to the 2nd defendant's agents, Kimani Kahiro Advocates, to regularise ownership of the suit property in accordance with a court-sanctioned consent. The...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2020] KEELC 2745 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: James Mukuria Njoroge (Administrator of the estate of the late Njoroge Thiaru); Defendant: Joseph Muraya Gachuhi; Defendant: Joreth Limited; Defendant: The Commissioner of Lands
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Environment & Land Case 462 of 2012
Procedural Posture
Land and Property Suit / Judgment
Outcome
Judgment for the plaintiff.
Legal Topics
Fraudulent Transfer, Title Registration, Adverse Possession, Succession and Administration, Innocent Purchaser, Land Allocation
Source Language
en
Land and Property Fraudulent Transfer Title Registration Adverse Possession Succession and Administration Innocent Purchaser Land Allocation

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Parties

James Mukuria Njoroge (Administrator of the estate of the late Njoroge Thiaru)

Plaintiff

Joseph Muraya Gachuhi

Defendant

Joreth Limited

Defendant

The Commissioner of Lands

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Land and Property Suit / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the plaintiff or the 1st defendant has a superior claim to the suit property.
  2. 2 Whether the transfer of the suit property to the 1st defendant was fraudulent or invalid.
  3. 3 Whether the plaintiff made requisite payments to regularise ownership under the consent order.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the plaintiff, as administrator of the estate of Njoroge Thiaru, had established on a balance of probabilities that he paid the requisite sums to the 2nd defendant's agents, Kimani Kahiro Advocates, to regularise ownership of the suit property in accordance with a court-sanctioned consent. The 2nd defendant failed to produce payment records or disprove the plaintiff's payments, despite having custody of such records. The court found the transfer of the property to the 1st defendant was tainted by irregularity, as the purported execution by a deceased director was not credibly explained and the defendants failed to discharge their burden of proving lawful execution....

Court Disposition

Judgment for the plaintiff.

Orders

  • Prayers (a) and (b) of the plaint dated 31/7/2012 are granted, including cancellation of the 1st defendant's title and restraint from dealing with the suit property.
  • The plaintiff is awarded costs of the suit to be borne by the 2nd defendant.