[2024] KEELC 6705 (KLR)

[2024] KEELC 6705 (KLR)

The court found that the plaintiffs had established, on a balance of probabilities, that Land Parcel Number Dagoretti/Riruta/1241 was ancestral land originally belonging to Muuru Igiria, the father of the late Mbuthi Muru and his siblings. The evidence, including minutes of elders' meetings and succession...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2024] KEELC 6705 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Nyokabi Kimani; Plaintiff: Naomi Wambui Kinuthia; Plaintiff: John Njoroge Murima; Defendant: Eunice Muthomi Mbuthi
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Environment & Land Case 359 of 2019
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Judgment
Outcome
Judgment for the plaintiffs; the defendant is to subdivide and distribute the land as per the trust; counterclaim dismissed; no order as to costs.
Judges
JA Mogeni
Legal Topics
Customary Trust, Ancestral Land, Succession Rights, Overriding Interests, Land Registration, Trusts in Land
Source Language
en
Land and Property Customary Trust Ancestral Land Succession Rights Overriding Interests Land Registration Trusts in Land

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Parties

Nyokabi Kimani

Plaintiff

Naomi Wambui Kinuthia

Plaintiff

John Njoroge Murima

Plaintiff

Eunice Muthomi Mbuthi

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Environment and Land Case / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the plaintiffs have proved the existence of a customary trust over Land Parcel Number Dagoretti/Riruta/1241.
  2. 2 Whether the defendant is the absolute owner of the suit land or holds it in trust for the plaintiffs and other beneficiaries.
  3. 3 Who should bear the costs of the suit.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the plaintiffs had established, on a balance of probabilities, that Land Parcel Number Dagoretti/Riruta/1241 was ancestral land originally belonging to Muuru Igiria, the father of the late Mbuthi Muru and his siblings. The evidence, including minutes of elders' meetings and succession proceedings, demonstrated that the late Mbuthi Muru was registered as proprietor to hold the land in trust for himself and his siblings under Kikuyu customary law. The defendant failed to provide evidence of independent acquisition or to rebut the presumption of trust. The court applied the principle that customary trusts are overriding interests not required to be registered, and that...

Court Disposition

Judgment for the plaintiffs; the defendant is to subdivide and distribute the land as per the trust; counterclaim dismissed; no order as to costs.

Orders

  • It is declared that the late Mbuthi Muru held Land Parcel Number Dagoretti/Riruta/1241 in trust for himself and the late Gathoni Muru, the late Beth Wanjiru Kamau, and Nyokabi Kimani in equal shares.
  • The defendant is directed to subdivide and share out Land Parcel No. Dagoretti/Riruta/1241 to: (a) the 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs (surviving grandchildren of the late Gathoni Muru); (b) the estate of Beth Wanjiru Kamau; (c) the 1st plaintiff Nyokabi Kimani; and (d) herself, in equal shares.