A Legal Analysis of Root of Title and Bona Fide Purchaser Doctrine under Dina Management Limited v County Government of Mombasa & 5 Others
ISSUE
Whether an appellant's root of title is valid in light of constitutional and judicial requirements, and whether such a party qualifies as a bona fide purchaser for value where the title may have been acquired through an unlawful process.
LEGAL BACKGROUND
The Supreme Court decision in Dina Management Limited v County Government of Mombasa & 5 Others provides authoritative guidance on the legal requirements for establishing good title and the parameters of the bona fide purchaser doctrine in Kenya.
ANALYSIS
1. The Root of Title Must Be Lawful
The Supreme Court in Dina Management emphasized that the first and foundational step in determining the validity of a party’s title is an inquiry into the root of title, beginning with the initial allotment or alienation of the land. The Court held that any party claiming to be a bona fide purchaser for value must demonstrate that the entire chain of title is free from legal defects.
“To establish whether the appellant is a bona fide purchaser for value therefore, we must first go to the root of the title, right from the first allotment...” (Dina Management, para 94)
This approach places the burden on the purchaser or holder of the title to ensure that the title was derived from lawful processes, and not merely on the existence of a registered title.
2. A Title Is Not Indefeasible If Acquired Unlawfully
The Court further clarified that a title deed, though presumed valid, does not enjoy automatic indefeasibility if the process leading to its issuance violated the law. The legitimacy of the title is conditional upon the legality of the steps leading up to its registration.
“The title or lease is an end product of a process. If the process that was followed prior to issuance of the title did not comply with the law, then such a title cannot be held as indefeasible.” (Dina Management, para 110)
Thus, a party cannot rely solely on possession of a title deed to assert ownership where the procedural integrity of that title is in doubt.
3. Constitutional Limits on the Right to Property
While Article 40(1) of the Constitution guarantees the right to acquire and own property, Article 40(6) introduces an important qualification: this protection does not extend to property found to have been unlawfully acquired.
“Article 40 of the Constitution entitles every person to the right to property, subject to the limitations set out therein. Article 40(6) limits the rights as not extending them to any property that has been found to have been unlawfully acquired.” (Dina Management, para 111)
Therefore, a party holding a title obtained through fraud, illegality, or irregular allocation cannot rely on constitutional protection to shield such property rights.
CONCLUSION
The legal position affirmed by the Supreme Court in Dina Management makes it clear that:
- A title deed, while a key document of ownership, must originate from a lawful process for it to be upheld.
- The doctrine of bona fide purchaser for value does not apply in cases where the root of title is tainted by illegality or irregularity.
- Article 40(6) of the Constitution expressly removes protection from such titles.
Accordingly, where an appellant’s root of title is found to be defective—particularly at the point of initial allotment or acquisition—the title is vulnerable to nullification, and the appellant cannot invoke the bona fide purchaser doctrine as a defense.
Notably, it is worth recomending that in all property transactions and litigation involving leasehold or freehold interests, practitioners and claimants must undertake thorough due diligence to trace the history of the title from first allocation. Where evidence of irregular or unlawful acquisition arises, the title is likely to be invalidated, regardless of registration status.