[2021] KEELC 420 (KLR)

[2021] KEELC 420 (KLR)

The court found that the suit property, KISII MUNICIPALITY/BLOCK 3/429, was trust land reserved for public use and vested in the County Council of Gusii. The subdivision and transfer of the property to the 1st Defendant were conducted without compliance with statutory procedures, approvals, or gazettement, and were...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2021] KEELC 420 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission; Defendant: Joseph Oroko Ongera; Defendant: Sammy Silas Komen Mwaita
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Kisii
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Environment & Land Case 113 of 2008
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Judgment
Outcome
Judgment for the Plaintiff. All prayers granted as sought.
Judges
DO Ogal
Legal Topics
Public Land Alienation, Fraudulent Title Acquisition, Misfeasance in Public Office, Rectification of Register, Injunctive Relief, Trust Land
Source Language
en
Land and Property Administrative Law Civil Procedure Public Land Alienation Fraudulent Title Acquisition Misfeasance in Public Office Rectification of Register Injunctive Relief +1 more

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 19 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 1
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission

Plaintiff

Joseph Oroko Ongera

Defendant

Sammy Silas Komen Mwaita

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Environment and Land Case / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether parcel KISII MUNICIPALITY/BLOCK 3/429 was trust land vested in the County Council of Gusii under the Trust Land Act.
  2. 2 Whether the Defendants acted fraudulently in alienating the suit property.
  3. 3 Whether the 1st Defendant holds a good title to the suit property.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the suit property, KISII MUNICIPALITY/BLOCK 3/429, was trust land reserved for public use and vested in the County Council of Gusii. The subdivision and transfer of the property to the 1st Defendant were conducted without compliance with statutory procedures, approvals, or gazettement, and were marred by fraud and illegality. The Commissioner of Lands (2nd Defendant) acted ultra vires and in breach of fiduciary duty by authorizing the unlawful alienation, making him liable for misfeasance in public office. As the process was fundamentally flawed, the resultant title held by the 1st Defendant was declared null and void ab initio. The court granted all reliefs sought by...

Court Disposition

Judgment for the Plaintiff. All prayers granted as sought.

Orders

  • A declaration that the lease to the 1st Defendant on 3rd July, 2002 in respect of KISII MUNICIPALITY/BLOCK 3/429 was made in excess of statutory powers of the 2nd Defendant and is null and void ab initio.
  • A permanent injunction restraining the 1st Defendant, his servants, employees, agents or assigns from trespassing upon, transferring, leasing, wasting or dealing with KISII MUNICIPALITY/BLOCK 3/429 other than by way of transferring the title to Kisii County Government.