[2025] KEELC 5120 (KLR)
The court held that the plaintiff's claim is unliquidated and falls within the category of cases where formal proof is required, even in the absence of the defendants. The law does not permit entry of summary or interlocutory judgment in land claims; the plaintiff must prove its case through evidence. As such, the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2025] KEELC 5120 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Aza Motoring Logistics Limited; Defendant: Jackson Lolmodooni; Defendant: David Lolmodooni; Defendant: Saayo Lenayesa
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Nanyuki
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case E006 of 2024
- Procedural Posture
- Environment and Land Case / Ruling on Notice of Motion for Summary Judgment
- Outcome
- Application for summary judgment dismissed with no order as to costs.
- Judges
- LN Mbugua
- Legal Topics
- Summary Judgment, Trespass to Land, Injunctive Relief, Burden of Proof
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Aza Motoring Logistics Limited
Plaintiff
Jackson Lolmodooni
Defendant
David Lolmodooni
Defendant
Saayo Lenayesa
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Ruling on Notice of Motion for Summary Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether summary judgment can be entered in an unliquidated claim for land where the defendants have not entered appearance.
- 2 Whether the plaintiff must formally prove its case despite the absence of the defendants.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the plaintiff's claim is unliquidated and falls within the category of cases where formal proof is required, even in the absence of the defendants. The law does not permit entry of summary or interlocutory judgment in land claims; the plaintiff must prove its case through evidence. As such, the application for summary judgment was found to be without merit and was dismissed.
Court Disposition
Application for summary judgment dismissed with no order as to costs.
Orders
- The notice of motion application dated 17.1.2025 is dismissed.
- No order as to costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
Aza Motoring Logistics Limited v Lolmodooni & 2 others (Environment & Land Case E006 of 2024) [2025] KEELC 5120 (KLR) (9 July 2025) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2025] KEELC 5120 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Environment and Land Court at Nanyuki
Environment & Land Case E006 of 2024
LN Mbugua, J
July 9, 2025
Between
Aza Motoring Logistics Limited
Plaintiff
and
Jackson Lolmodooni
1st Defendant
David Lolmodooni
2nd Defendant
Saayo Lenayesa
3rd Defendant
Ruling
1. Before me is a notice of motion application dated 17. 1.2025 in which the plaintiff seeks orders that summary judgment be entered against the defendants as prayed in the plaint. It is contended that the defendants were served with summons to enter appearance through substituted service, but they did not enter appearance.
2. The plaintiff contends that it is the registered owner of the suit land LR/SIPILI DONYOLOIP BLOCK1/1XX0 LAIKIPIA, but on 14. 1.2024, the defendants wrongly trespassed on the said land and started ploughing.
3. The plaintiffs seek the following orders against the defendants;“a)A permanent injunction be and is hereby granted, restraining the 1st and 2nd and 3rd defendants, their agents, employees or servants or anybody else acting on their behalf from trespassing, harassing or in any manner interfering with the quiet possession, ownership, occupation and use of LR No. Sipili Donyoloip Block 1/1XX0 (Laikipia), by the plaintiff, their agents, employees or servants or anybody else acting on their behalf.b)Special damages for breach of investment contract with investors from Doha-Qatar on free range goat breeding.c)Special damages for loss of future economic use for free range goat breedingof the parcels of land LR No. Sipili Donyolip block 1/1XX0 (Laikipia).d)The 1st and 2nd and 3rd Defendants jointly and severally pay general damages for cutting mature trees and indigenous vegetation.e)The 1st and 2nd and 3rd defendants jointly and severally pay punitive damages.f)The 1st and 2nd and 3rd defendants jointly and severally pay general damages for trespass on LR No. Sipili Donyoloip Block 1/1XX0 (Laikipia).g)Cost of this suit be awarded to the plaintiff.
4. In Beatrice Wanjiru Kamuri v John Kibira Muiruri [2016] eKLR, it was stated that;“It will be seen from the above that the claim in our case, being a claim for land, does not qualify for entry of interlocutory judgment”
5. While in Gichinga Kibutha v Caroline Nduku [2018] eKLR, it was stated that;“It is not automatic that in instances where the evidence is not controverted, the claimant’s claim shall have his way in Court. He must discharge the burden of proof. He must proof his case however much the opponent has not made a presence in the contest”
6. What resonates from the above cited law is that a claimant is required to formally proof his case before a court of law despite the absence of the defendant in unliquidated claims. The claim of the plaintiff is unliquidated and falls under the category where the plaintiff has to proof its case via evidence. As such, I find that the application dated 17. 1.2025 is not merited, the same is hereby dismissed with no orders as to costs.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NANYUKI THIS 9THDAY OF JULY 2025 THROUGH MICROSOFT TEAMS.LUCY N. MBUGUAJUDGEIn the presence of:-Karongo H/B for Mr. Gitau for the plaintiff