Family Of Kenya's Longest-serving Spy Chief Wins 77 Million Land Battle

Kenyas longest-serving spy chief family wins 77 million land dispute over 500-acre Ruiru estate in landmark court ruling.

Nairobi court invalidates fraudulent land sale, bars Trendsetters and Marriott Africa from further transactions amid forged document claims.

Kanyotu estates ownership restored, ending years of legal battle and securing control for the late intelligence chiefs heirs.

The family of the late James Kanyotu, Kenyas longest-serving intelligence chief, has secured a major legal victory in a protracted 77 million land dispute after a Nairobi court ruled the contested 500-acre property in Ruiru, Kiambu County, remains part of his estate.

The Environment and Land Court, in a judgment delivered on July 10, declared the purported sale of the prime land as illegal, null and void, restoring full ownership to Kangaita Coffee Estate Ltd., where Kanyotu held a controlling stake.

Justice Oguttu Mboya barred Trendsetters Investments, Marriott Africa International, Ukombozi Holdings, and their affiliates from any further dealings with the land.

Justice Oguttu cited existing 2010 succession court orders that prohibited any transactions involving Kangaitas land, finding that subsequent sales breached those directives. The judge ruled that Marriott, which acquired the land from Trendsetters for Ksh750 million 5.8 million, could not claim clean title since the seller lacked valid ownership.

A semblance of due diligence would no doubt have brought to their attention the existence of court orders, Oguttu said, adding that the registered caveats and succession case provided constructive knowledge of the legal risks.