In a scathing judgment, Justice Oguttu Mboya ruled that the sale of 500 acres of prime land in Ruiru, originally owned by Kangaita Coffee Estate Limited, where the late James Kanyotu was the majority shareholder, violated existing court orders in a succession dispute and contravened land laws. [Photo: Courtesy]
By Our Court Reporter
A multi-billion shilling land transaction involving controversial businessman Kamlesh Pattni has been thrown into disarray after the Environment and Land Court declared it illegal, delivering a resounding victory to the family of the late intelligence supremo, James Kanyotu.
In a scathing judgement, Justice Oguttu Mboya ruled that the sale of 500 acres of prime land in Ruiru, originally owned by Kangaita Coffee Estate Limited, where Kanyotu was the majority shareholder, violated standing court orders issued in a succession dispute and breached land laws.
At the heart of the saga is Marriott Africa International Limited, a company claiming foreign (Ukrainian) ownership but whose address is shared with Trendsetters Investments Limited, a firm linked to Pattni. Marriott claimed to have bought the land for Sh750 million, but the court found the entire transaction was fatally flawed from the outset.
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The property was the subject of caveats and judicial orders dating back to October and November 2010, which barred any dealings involving Kanyotu’s estate. Nevertheless, a sale agreement was inked on 19 February 2012, well after the prohibitions had taken effect.
“The sale of the suit property was prohibited by lawful and valid orders of the court, which prohibited any dealings with the affairs of companies where the deceased was the majority shareholder,” Justice Oguttu stated in his ruling.
In a further twist, evidence presented in court revealed attempts to cover the tracks of the illicit deal. Abdul Dawood, a director at Marriott, admitted that while the land was under restriction, the company went ahead with the purchase and even paid Sh15 million in stamp duty. He denied being associated with Pattni but struggled to explain why Marriott shared an address with Trendsetters.
Another witness, Ken Njau, who appeared for Marriott, told the court he was unaware of Kanyotu’s ownership stake and could not explain why the land control board’s consent reflected only half of the declared purchase price.
Meanwhile, Margaret Nyakinyua, one of Kanyotu’s widows and a director of Kangaita, delivered the most damning testimony. She revealed that Pattni had approached her with an offer of Sh50 million to withdraw the case, a proposition she flatly rejected. She maintained that neither she nor the company received any proceeds from the alleged sale and insisted the entire transaction was carried out behind her back.
Adding to the intrigue, the land in question was later resold by Ukombozi Holdings Limited, a company acting on behalf of Pattni, for a suspiciously low figure of Sh3 million, raising serious concerns over the integrity of the deal.
The court concluded that Marriott could not have acquired a clean title to the property and found the entire transaction chain, from Trendsetters to Marriott and then Ukombozi, null and void. Justice Oguttu barred both companies and their agents from any further dealings with the disputed land.
Legal experts say the ruling sets a powerful precedent in defending the sanctity of court orders in succession matters. It also reignites long-held suspicions about how public and private land has been quietly transferred through networks of proxies and shell companies, sometimes in open defiance of judicial authority.
As the dust settles, the Kanyotu family has emerged vindicated, while Pattni’s name returns to the headlines, yet again linked to a high-stakes legal battle over wealth, power, and land.
