[2024] KEELC 5827 (KLR)

[2024] KEELC 5827 (KLR)

The court found that the suit was not statute barred, as the Plaintiffs registered a caution in 2002 upon discovering the alleged fraud, and the suit was filed within twelve years. The evidence established that Njoki Maina was the original shareholder and owner of the suit property, and that James Mwangi Maina was...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2024] KEELC 5827 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Nancy Wanjiku Maina; Plaintiff: Jane Njeri Njoroge; Defendant: Jane Wairimu Mwangi; Defendant: Joel Maina Mwangi; Defendant: John Njuguna Njoroge; Defendant: Land Registrar Nairobi; Defendant: Bernard Ngethi Kihagi
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Environment & Land Case 127 of 2014
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Judgment
Outcome
Plaintiffs' claim allowed; Defendants' counterclaim dismissed.
Judges
OA Angote
Legal Topics
Succession of Land, Fraudulent Transfer of Title, Limitation of Actions, Bona Fide Purchaser, Injunctive Relief
Source Language
en
Land and Property Civil Procedure Succession of Land Fraudulent Transfer of Title Limitation of Actions Bona Fide Purchaser Injunctive Relief

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Parties

Nancy Wanjiku Maina

Plaintiff

Jane Njeri Njoroge

Plaintiff

Jane Wairimu Mwangi

Defendant

Joel Maina Mwangi

Defendant

John Njuguna Njoroge

Defendant

Land Registrar Nairobi

Defendant

Bernard Ngethi Kihagi

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Environment and Land Case / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the suit is statute barred under the Limitation of Actions Act.
  2. 2 Whether James Mwangi Maina lawfully obtained title to the suit property.
  3. 3 Whether the 1st Defendant lawfully sold the suit property to the 2nd and 3rd Defendants.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the suit was not statute barred, as the Plaintiffs registered a caution in 2002 upon discovering the alleged fraud, and the suit was filed within twelve years. The evidence established that Njoki Maina was the original shareholder and owner of the suit property, and that James Mwangi Maina was not a shareholder of Githurai Ting’ang’a Ltd and acquired title without letters of administration, contrary to the Law of Succession Act. The transfer of the property to James Mwangi Maina was therefore unlawful and fraudulent. Consequently, the 1st Defendant and her son, as administrators of James Mwangi Maina’s estate, could not lawfully transfer the property to the 2nd and...

Court Disposition

Plaintiffs' claim allowed; Defendants' counterclaim dismissed.

Orders

  • Declaration that Njoki Maina (deceased) is the lawful owner of LR No. Nairobi/Block/119/603.
  • Nullification and cancellation of title of LR No. Nairobi/Block/119/603 in the name of the 2nd and 3rd Defendants.