[2017] KEELC 138 (KLR)
The court found that the orders sought by the plaintiff could not be granted because the act intended to be restrained—digging of the hole—had already taken place. The purpose of a temporary injunction is to prevent an anticipated or ongoing act, not to reverse or address a completed one. The court further noted...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2017] KEELC 138 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Edward Nyaoga Onsongo; Defendant: Job Mekubo Mogusu
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Kitale
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Land Case 129 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Land Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction Application
- Outcome
- application dismissed with costs to the defendant
- Judges
- FM Njoroge
- Legal Topics
- Temporary Injunctions, Nuisance, Public Health Orders, Environmental Restoration, Locus Standi
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Edward Nyaoga Onsongo
Plaintiff
Job Mekubo Mogusu
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Land Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff is entitled to a temporary injunction restraining the defendant from digging a hole for water discharge next to the plaintiff's house.
- 2 Whether the orders sought can issue when the act complained of has already occurred.
- 3 Whether the plaintiff has locus standi to bring the claim as a private nuisance.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the orders sought by the plaintiff could not be granted because the act intended to be restrained—digging of the hole—had already taken place. The purpose of a temporary injunction is to prevent an anticipated or ongoing act, not to reverse or address a completed one. The court further noted that the plaintiff did not demonstrate any ongoing or imminent harm that could be forestalled by the injunction. Additionally, the defendant raised issues regarding locus standi and the public nature of the alleged nuisance, which the plaintiff had not adequately addressed. Consequently, the application for a temporary injunction was dismissed as the prayers had been overtaken by...
Court Disposition
application dismissed with costs to the defendant
Orders
- The application dated 17/7/2017 is dismissed with costs to the defendant.
- The parties should fix the suit for hearing on a priority basis.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
27 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT KITALE
LAND CASE NO. 129 OF 2017
EDWARD NYAOGA ONSONGO………......…….…..PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
JOB MEKUBO MOGUSU…………………………DEFENDANT
R U L I N G
1. The plaintiff filed a Notice of Motion date 17th July, 2017 seeking orders of temporary injunction to restrain the defendant from digging a hole for water discharge next to the plaintiff’s house in Plot No. Kitale Municipality Block 18/Bidii/994pending, first the hearing of the application interpartes and second, pending the hearing of the suit. The application is supported by an affidavit sworn by the plaintiff on 17/7/2017.
2. The defendant filed a replying affidavit sworn by the defendant on 19/7/2017. The counsel for both parties appeared before court on 20/7/2017 when the application was argued orally.
3. The plaintiff’s case is that he owns Plot No. Kitale Municipality Block 18/Bidii/994while the defendant owns Plot No. Kitale Municipality Block 18/Bidii/996. The plaintiff avers in his affidavit that the defendant has dug a hole for water discharge next to the plaintiff’s house without any due regard for the safety of the plaintiff’s house and that the hole poses a danger to the house.
4. It further states that despite a notice from the Public Health Office requiring the defendant to manage and control the water within his plot, and thus abate the nuisance allegedly occasioned to his neighbour, the defendant did not do so. The said notice is dated 19/8/2016 and is exhibit No. “ENO-4”in the plaintiff’s supporting affidavit. The County Director of Environment Water and Natural Resources also compiled a report dated 24/2/2017on the disputed hole and made recommendations which the defendant has neglected to comply with.
5. The County Director of Environment has also issued the defendant with an Environmental Restoration Order to refill the hole, which the restoration order the defendant has neglected. A demand notice dated 30/5/2017 has also been ignored.
6. In his replying affidavit the defendant avers that he has not dug a hole next to the applicant’s house; that the applicant has not demonstrated that the house is in danger; that the applicant barricaded the water path with a perimeter wall; which causes all the water to accumulate at the defendant’s home; that after the rains the defendant intends to cement the hole to act as his water reservoir; that the plaintiff has no locus standi, that the act complained of is a public nuisance and the plaintiff has not complied with Section 61 of the Civil Procedure Act; that the applicant has not shown any loss suffered since June, 2016; that the actions complained of can be compensated for by way of damages, and finally that the prayers sought have been overtaken by events. An interim injunction is meant to forestall that which has not yet occurred.
7. I have examined the prayers in the application. They seek to restrain the digging of a hole by the defendant. The hole has already been dug by the defendant. It was dug ostensibly to serve a certain purpose. It is true that the orders sought cannot issue since the action intended to be restrained has already taken place.
8. The application dated 17/7/2017 is hereby dismissed with costs to the defendant. The parties should fix the suit for hearing on a priority basis.
Dated, signed and delivered at Kitale on this 24th day of August, 2017.
MWANGI NJOROGE
JUDGE
24/8/2017
Before - Mwangi Njoroge Judge
Court Assistant – Isabellah/Picoty
Mr. Bororio for the Applicant
Mr. Wafula for Respondent
Ruling read in open court.
MWANGI NJOROGE
JUDGE
24/8/2017