[2016] KEELC 768 (KLR)

[2016] KEELC 768 (KLR)

The court found that the Plaintiff was the bona fide registered proprietor of Kilifi/Madeteni/368, having lawfully acquired and registered the land in 1984. The purported cancellation of the Plaintiff's title by the Commissioner of Lands via Gazette Notice No. 2505 of 1986 was unlawful, as only a court has the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2016] KEELC 768 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Madeteni Ltd; Defendant: The Attorney General (on behalf of the Government of Kenya, the Commissioner of Lands and the Kilifi District Land Registrar); Defendant: Aldeheid Kazungu Shaffter; Defendant: Genteel Waves Properties Limited
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Malindi
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
? 86 of 2007
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Judgment
Outcome
Plaintiff's suit allowed; declarations and orders granted as prayed.
Judges
OA Angote
Legal Topics
Land Title Rectification, Fraudulent Transfer, Indefeasibility of Title, Innocent Purchaser, Land Control Board Consent
Source Language
en
Land and Property Civil Procedure Land Title Rectification Fraudulent Transfer Indefeasibility of Title Innocent Purchaser Land Control Board Consent

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Madeteni Ltd

Plaintiff

The Attorney General (on behalf of the Government of Kenya, the Commissioner of Lands and the Kilifi District Land Registrar)

Defendant

Aldeheid Kazungu Shaffter

Defendant

Genteel Waves Properties Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Civil Case / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the cancellation of the Plaintiff's title to Kilifi/Madeteni/368 by the Commissioner of Lands was lawful.
  2. 2 Whether the subsequent registration of the 2nd and 3rd Defendants as proprietors of the suit property was valid.
  3. 3 Whether the Plaintiff is entitled to rectification of the land register and restoration of its name as proprietor.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the Plaintiff was the bona fide registered proprietor of Kilifi/Madeteni/368, having lawfully acquired and registered the land in 1984. The purported cancellation of the Plaintiff's title by the Commissioner of Lands via Gazette Notice No. 2505 of 1986 was unlawful, as only a court has the authority to cancel a title under Section 143(1) of the Registered Land Act. The 2nd Defendant's subsequent registration as proprietor and the transfer to the 3rd Defendant were both null and void, as the Plaintiff's title had not been lawfully extinguished or impugned. The doctrine of innocent purchaser for value did not apply, as the 2nd Defendant could not transfer a valid title...

Court Disposition

Plaintiff's suit allowed; declarations and orders granted as prayed.

Orders

  • Declaration that the Plaintiff is and has always been the bona fide proprietor of Kilifi/Madeteni/368.
  • Declaration that the removal of the Plaintiff's name from the Land Register and entry of the 2nd Defendant's name was illegal, null and void.