[2017] KEELC 1766 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant's request for an interlocutory eviction order lacked merit at this stage because there is a substantive dispute between the parties regarding ownership and occupation of the suit land, which is also the subject of a pending succession cause (Hamisi Law Courts Succession Cause...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2017] KEELC 1766 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Elizabeth PamelaNechesa; Respondent: Rosalia Italia
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Kakamega
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 194 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Eviction Order
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Judges
- NA Matheka
- Legal Topics
- Eviction Orders, Trespass to Land, Interlocutory Injunctions
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Elizabeth PamelaNechesa
Applicant
Rosalia Italia
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Eviction Order
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant is entitled to an interlocutory eviction order against the respondent pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
- 2 Whether the respondent's continued occupation and cultivation of the suit land constitutes trespass warranting immediate eviction.
- 3 Whether the existence of a pending succession cause affects the grant of the orders sought.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant's request for an interlocutory eviction order lacked merit at this stage because there is a substantive dispute between the parties regarding ownership and occupation of the suit land, which is also the subject of a pending succession cause (Hamisi Law Courts Succession Cause Number 13 of 2015). Granting an eviction order at this interlocutory stage would be premature and potentially prejudicial to the respondent, especially in the absence of a full hearing where both parties can present their cases. The court emphasized that such drastic orders should only be issued after a full trial, where the merits of the parties' claims can be properly adjudicated....
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The application for an interlocutory eviction order is dismissed.
- Costs to be in the cause.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT KAKAMEGA
ELC CASE NO. 194 OF 2017
ELIZABETH PAMELANECHESA.......PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT
VERSUS
ROSALIA ITALIA........................DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
RULING
This application is brought under Order 39 Rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules 2010 and Section 3A of the Civil Procedure Act Cap 21 Laws of Kenya seeking the following orders;
1. The instant application to be certified to e of utmost urgency and be heard ex-parte in the 1st instance.
2. The defendant/respondent be compelled by an Eviction Order of the honourable court to vacate the plaintiff’s/applicant’s land parcel being KAKAMEGA/SEREM/10 measuring 0. 42 Hectares.
3. The O.C.S. Serem police station to provide security and ensure full compliance of the said orders.
4. The costs of this application and the main suit be borne by the respondent.
It is supported by the annexed affidavit of Elizabeth PamelaNechesa. The grounds are briefly that, the plaintiff/applicant is the absolute registered owner of land parcel number KAKAMEGA/SEREM/10 measuring 0. 42 Hectares. The defendant/respondent has without any colour of rights and or justifiable excuse or reason encroached and trespassed on the plaintiff/applicant’s parcel by cultivating same.The defendant/respondent is a total stranger to the plaintiff/applicant and hence has no legal rights to intermeddle with the plaintiff/applicant’s parcel of land.The plaintiff/applicant stands to suffer huge irreparable losses and damages through the defendant/respondent’s actions.
The applicant submitted that she is the absolute registered owner of land parcel number KAKAMEGA/SEREM/10 measuring 0. 42 hectares (Annexed and marked ‘CS 1’ is a copy of a certificate of official search for the same).She acquired the same vide certificate of confirmation of grant issued vide Hamisi Law Courts Succession Cause Number 13 of 2015. The said parcel of land belonged to her late husband one SamuelLusichiAmakanga.That the defendant/respondent has been cultivating on the plaintiff/applicant’s parcel of land.The defendant/respondent’s actions amount to trespassing and/or intermeddling with the plaintiff/applicant’s parcel of land.the The/applicant plaintiff has also sought legal redress vide Hamisi Law Courts Succession Cause Number 13 of 2015 brought under certificate of urgency but the defendant/respondent has continually remained defiant and evasive.The defendant/respondent’s actions have forced her to seek legal redress through this honourable court for orders that she be forcefully evicted from her parcel of land.
This court has considered the plaintiff’s/applicant’s submissions and the supporting affidavit therein. The respondent was served and failed to attend court and the matter proceeded exparte. The applicant submitted that she is the absolute registered owner of land parcel number KAKAMEGA/SEREM/10 measuring 0. 42 hectares (Annexed and marked ‘CS 1’ is a copy of a certificate of official search for the same). She acquired the same vide certificate of confirmation of grant issued vide Hamisi Law Courts Succession Cause Number 13 of 2015. The said parcel of land belonged to her late husband SamuelLusichiAmakanga. That the defendant/respondent has been cultivating on the plaintiff’s/applicant’s parcel of land.I find that the plaintiff/applicant’s application lacks merit at this stage and the matter would need to go to full hearing in order to determine whether an eviction order would be justified. Indeed it is admitted that there is a case pending between the same parties, namely, Hamisi Law Courts Succession Cause Number 13 of 2015. I therefore dismiss this application and the costs to be in the cause.
It is so ordered.
DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT KAKAMEGA IN OPEN COURT THIS26TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2017.
N.A. MATHEKA
JUDGE