[2024] KEELC 13746 (KLR)

[2024] KEELC 13746 (KLR)

The court found that the plaintiffs failed to discharge the burden of proof required to establish the existence of a customary trust over the suit land. There was no evidence that the land was ancestral or clan land, nor that it was intended to be held in trust for the plaintiffs. The evidence showed the land was...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2024] KEELC 13746 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Esther Njeri Nganga; Plaintiff: Damaris Dotty Wanjiru Nganga; Defendant: Mary Wanjiru Njenga; Defendant: Lilian Wanjiku Augustus
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Thika
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Environment & Land Case E015 of 2023
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Judgment
Outcome
Plaintiffs' case dismissed for lack of proof of customary trust or perfected gift; each party to bear their own costs.
Judges
JG Kemei
Legal Topics
Customary Trust, Gift Inter Vivos, Succession and Inheritance, Land Registration, Family Land Disputes
Source Language
en
Land and Property Customary Trust Gift Inter Vivos Succession and Inheritance Land Registration Family Land Disputes

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Downloadable case file Legal principles 4 Authorities cited 11 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Esther Njeri Nganga

Plaintiff

Damaris Dotty Wanjiru Nganga

Plaintiff

Mary Wanjiru Njenga

Defendant

Lilian Wanjiku Augustus

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Environment and Land Case / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the plaintiffs have proven the existence of a customary trust over the suit land.
  2. 2 Whether the plaintiffs were gifted the suit land by the deceased as an intervivos gift.
  3. 3 Whether the plaintiffs' occupation of the suit property was by virtue of license or gift.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the plaintiffs failed to discharge the burden of proof required to establish the existence of a customary trust over the suit land. There was no evidence that the land was ancestral or clan land, nor that it was intended to be held in trust for the plaintiffs. The evidence showed the land was purchased by the 1st defendant and her late husband, and subsequently devolved to the 1st defendant through succession. The plaintiffs' occupation was as licensees, not as beneficiaries of a trust or as recipients of a perfected gift. The court further held that any claim regarding a gift inter vivos should be determined by the succession court, as there was no documentary...

Court Disposition

Plaintiffs' case dismissed for lack of proof of customary trust or perfected gift; each party to bear their own costs.

Orders

  • The plaintiffs' case is dismissed.
  • Each party to bear their own costs.