[2023] KEELC 21295 (KLR)

[2023] KEELC 21295 (KLR)

The Plaintiff admitted selling the suit land to Mbalwe, received the full purchase price, and allowed the burial of Mbalwe and his wife on the land. Despite procedural irregularities in the transfer to the 1st Defendant, the Plaintiff cannot seek cancellation of the title after having benefitted from the transaction...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] KEELC 21295 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Anna Mary Ajam Odeme; 1st Defendant: Brian Mike Ochieng; 2nd Defendant: Francis Mutugi Kiragu
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Busia
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Environment & Land Case 108 of 2015
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Judgment
Outcome
Plaintiff's suit dismissed; Defendants' counter-claims allowed in part.
Judges
BN Olao
Legal Topics
Fraudulent Transfer of Land, Constructive Trust, Registration of Title, Bona Fide Purchaser, Land Control Board Consent
Source Language
en
Land and Property Fraudulent Transfer of Land Constructive Trust Registration of Title Bona Fide Purchaser Land Control Board Consent

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Anna Mary Ajam Odeme

Plaintiff

Brian Mike Ochieng

1st Defendant

Francis Mutugi Kiragu

2nd Defendant

Procedural Posture

Environment and Land Case / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the 1st Defendant obtained the title deed to the suit land through fraud.
  2. 2 Whether the 2nd Defendant’s title to the suit land is impeachable and if it should revert to the Plaintiff.
  3. 3 Whether the 1st Defendant is entitled to the orders sought in his counter-claim.

Ratio Decidendi

The Plaintiff admitted selling the suit land to Mbalwe, received the full purchase price, and allowed the burial of Mbalwe and his wife on the land. Despite procedural irregularities in the transfer to the 1st Defendant, the Plaintiff cannot seek cancellation of the title after having benefitted from the transaction and relinquished her rights. The Plaintiff's subsequent attempts to sell the same land to a third party further undermine her credibility. The 1st Defendant, as legal representative of Mbalwe's estate, had standing to defend the title, and the 2nd Defendant's registration as proprietor stands unchallenged by the vendor. The Plaintiff's suit is dismissed, and the Defendants'...

Court Disposition

Plaintiff's suit dismissed; Defendants' counter-claims allowed in part.

Orders

  • The Plaintiff’s suit is dismissed with costs to both Defendants.
  • The 1st Defendant’s counter-claim is allowed to the extent that the registration of land parcel NO BUKHAYO/BUGENGI/7380 be maintained in its current state (registered in the name of the 2nd Defendant).