A court has decided that a long-running family dispute over land pitting the late business tycoon Mohan Galot against his nephews will now be heard in Thika instead of Nairobi.
The Environment and Land Court (ELC) in Nairobi agreed with one side of the family that the case should be moved because the land in question is in Kiambu County, where Thika is located.
The judge said it made sense for the case to be handled there since there is a court in Thika that deals with the same kind of issues.
‘It is for this reason that I will allow the application for transfer to the Thika Environment and Land Court,’ said the court.
The judge also noted that the case has dragged on for too long and ordered that it should be handled quickly.
The matter will come up before the presiding judge in Thika ELC on May 5, 2026, for directions on how it will proceed.
The dispute was originally filed by the late Mohan Galot against his brothers and nephews, and is linked to another earlier fight over control of family businesses.
The land is more than 20 acres and has been home to the family for over 40 years. Some family members claim that although the land is in Mohan’s name, he was holding it trust on behalf of the bigger Galot family.
One of the nephews, Ganesh Galot, argued that the case should be heard in Kiambu because the land is there, all the parties live there, and there are other related cases already in a local magistrate’s court. He said moving the case would save time and money for everyone involved.
However, Avin Galot, who represents Mohan’s estate, opposed the move. He argued that the land belonged solely to his late father and accused the other family members of trying to take it away from the estate. He also said that some of the people involved live and work in Nairobi, so location alone should not determine where the case is heard.
Mohan Galot, a well-known businessman in the clothing, alcohol, and real estate sectors, died in June 2025 in London while undergoing treatment. He was the face of Galot Industries and led companies such as Manchester Outfitters, later known as King Woollen Mills.
Before his death, he had been in a long legal battle over the control of the family’s businesses. In 2024, a panel of three judges ruled in his favour, saying he had the authority to appoint or remove company directors.
His nephews-Pravin, Rajesh, and Ganeshlal-had accused him of pushing them out of the companies unfairly.
The family business dates back to 1954, when it was started by their father, Lachman Pusharam Galot, as a clothing company. It later expanded into real estate and alcohol production, with Mohan joining as a partner while his brothers were also brought into the business.