14/05/2026
Many people innocently purchase land or property only to later discover that the registered owner died years ago and no succession process was ever undertaken.
Under Kenyan law, such transactions can amount to inter-meddling with a deceased person’s estate and may render the sale null and void.
In this article, we break down:
✔️ Why you cannot legally buy property still registered in a deceased person’s name;
✔️ The risks buyers expose themselves to;
✔️ The offence of intermeddling under the Law of Succession Act;
✔️ What families should do before selling estate property;
✔️ The limited grants available in urgent situations; and
✔️ Key due diligence steps every buyer must undertake.
A title deed alone is never enough. Proper succession and legal due diligence are critical.
Read the full article here: https://njagaadvocates.com/why-it-is-illegal-to-buy-property-registered-in-a-deceased-persons-name-in-kenya/
