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Karisa v Musa & 3 others (Environment & Land Case 10 of 2017) [2022] KEELC 14846 (KLR) (15 November 2022) (Judgment)
Neutral citation:
[2022] KEELC 14846 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
Environment & Land Case 10 of 2017
MAO Odeny, J
November 15, 2022
Between
Karisa Charo Karisa
Plaintiff
and
Anas Hassan Musa
1st Defendant
Mackstone Karisa Garama
2nd Defendant
Rachel Dama Kadenge Masha
3rd Defendant
District Land Registrar -Kilifi
4th Defendant
Judgment
1.The Plaintiff’s case was dismissed on the 7th March, 2022 and therefore what remains for determination is the 3rd Defendant’s Counter Claim dated 10th May, 2018 whereby she sought the following orders; -a.Vacant possession of the 3rd Defendant’s parcel of land known as Title No. Kilifi/ Mtondia/709 and an order for demolition of any structure or houses constructed by the Plaintiff on the said parcel of land and his eviction therefrom.b.An order of permanent injunction against the Plaintiff, restraining the Plaintiff by himself, his servants or agents from erecting any structures or houses on the said parcel of land known as Title No. Kilifi/ Mtondia/ 709 and from selling or alienating the said parcel of land or from dealing with the said parcel of land in any manner.c.Costs of this suit and interest thereon at Court rates.d.Any other relief that this honourable court may deem just to grant.
2.DW1 the 3rd Defendant Rachel Dama Kadenge Masha adopted her statement dated 9th February, 2017 as her evidence in chief, a list of documents dated 9th February, 2017 and told the court that she is the registered owner of all that parcel of land situated within Mtondia Settlement Scheme at Mtondia within Kilifi County measuring 0.43 hectares known as Kilifi/ Mtondia/ 709 as per a copy of the Title Deed which she produced in court.
3.It was DW1’s testimony that the owner of the original parcel of land known as title No. Kilifi/ Mtondia/99 was the late Karisa Mweri and upon his death, the estate devolved to the three sons and his widow. She further told the court that to facilitate the allocation to each beneficiary the deceased widow and one son Charo Karisa Mweri were appointed the administrators of the estate and the said parcel of land was divided into Kilifi/ Mtondia/ 467,468,469 & 470 respectively.
4.It was her testimony that on 10th September, 1998 one Kenga Karisa Mweri the then beneficial owner of portion No. Kilifi/ Mtondia/709 sold the land to her at a consideration of Kshs. 82,500/- and that the Administrators obtained the requisite consents from the Land Control Board and later on transferred the said portion to her.
5.The Defendant further stated that after purchasing the suit property she took possession and built 5 permanent houses and one semi-permanent house, planted several mangoes, coconut, cashew-nut, orange and other hardwood trees and that she has been in possession of the suit property for over 15 years.
6.DW1 also told the court that on 24th September, 2005 she bought a parcel of land adjacent to the suit property measuring ½ acres from DW2 who had purchased it from Kenga Karisa Mweri and produced a copy of agreement dated 24th September, 2005.
7.DW2 Pattyson Kasena Changawatold the court that on 7th June, 2001 he purchased a parcel of land at Mtondia from Kenga Karisa Mweri at a consideration of Kshs. 35,000/ -. That the parcel of land was within title No. Kilifi/ Mtondia /469 a subdivision of parcel No. Kilifi/ Mtondia /99 and that he later on sold the ½ acre of land to Rachel Dama Masha.
Analysis and Determination
8.The Plaintiff’s suit was dismissed on 7th March 2022 and the court allowed the 3rd Defendant to proceed with her counterclaim. This is an undefended claim and the issue for determination is whether the 3rd Defendant has proved that she is the rightful owner of the suit land.
9.The Defendant gave a history of the suit land and how she acquired it. From the evidence on record it is apparent that the original title No. Kilifi/ Mtondia/ 99 was first registered under the Settlement Fund Trustees on the 8th September, 1980 and that on 11th March, 1997, the title was transferred to Dama Karisa Mweri and Charo Karisa Mweri. The suit property was later subdivided into four portions and new titles Kilifi/ Mtondia/ 467, 468, 469 and 470 were issued respectively.
10.On 14th March, 1997 Title No. Kilifi/ Mtondia/ 469 was subdivided into two plots number 709 and 710 and the record also shows that No. Kilifi/ Mtondia/709 was transferred to Rachel Dama Kadenge Masha on 9th July, 2002 and a title deed issued which she produced as an exhibit before the court.
11.She has also produced an agreement for sale showing how she acquired the suit land having purchased it from one Kenga Karisa Mweri on the 10th September, 1998.
12.The 3rd Defendant has produced proof that she is the registered owner of the suit land by exhibiting a title deed which is prima facie evidence that she is the absolute and indefeasible owner as provided for under Section 26(1) of the Land Registration Act as follows: -
13.The Defendant’s title can only be impeached if it is proven that she acquired it fraudulently, unprocedurally or through misrepresentation which in this case has not been proven
14.Registration of a proprietor gives such a person the absolute ownership as provided for under section 24(a) of the Land Registration Act 2012. I therefore find that the 3rd Defendant has proved her counterclaim and is therefore allowed and issue the following specific orders: -a.The Plaintiff to give vacant possession of the 3rd Defendant’s parcel of land known as Title No. Kilifi/ Mtondia/709 within 45 days failure to which eviction order to issue.b.An order is hereby issued for demolition of any structure or houses constructed by the Plaintiff on the said parcel of land within 45 days.c.An order of permanent injunction is hereby issued against the Plaintiff, restraining the Plaintiff by himself, his servants or agents from erecting any structures or houses on the said parcel of land known as Title No. Kilifi/ Mtondia/ 709 and from selling or alienating the said parcel of land or from dealing with the said parcel of land in any manner.d.Costs of this suit and interest thereon at Court rates.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT MALINDI THIS 15TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2022.M.A. ODENYJUDGENB: In view of the Public Order No. 2 of 2021 and subsequent circular dated 28th March, 2021 from the Office of the Chief Justice on the declarations of measures restricting court operations due to the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic this Judgment has been delivered online to the last known email address thereby waiving Order 21 [1] of the Civil Procedure Rules.
