[2018] KEELC 1705 (KLR)
The court found that the respondents had been served with the court order and penal notice but failed to comply with the judgment requiring them to surrender the subdivided title deeds. The respondents' application to set aside the judgment had already been dismissed. The court held that the applicants were entitled...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEELC 1705 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Florence Makungu Harun; Plaintiff: Nitas Achanga Ingatso; Defendant: Stanley Mafoli Musindi; Defendant: Solomon Munyasi Atianyi
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Kakamega
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 400 of 2014
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Post Judgment Enforcement Application
- Outcome
- application granted in part
- Judges
- NA Matheka
- Legal Topics
- Title Deeds Surrender, Enforcement of Judgment, Land Registration, Civil Jail Contempt
- 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
Florence Makungu Harun
Plaintiff
Nitas Achanga Ingatso
Plaintiff
Stanley Mafoli Musindi
Defendant
Solomon Munyasi Atianyi
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Post Judgment Enforcement Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the respondents should be compelled to surrender title deeds for subdivided land parcels as per the judgment.
- 2 Whether the applicants are entitled to have the title deeds released for registration purposes.
- 3 Whether the respondents are in contempt of court for failing to comply with the judgment of 15th November 2017.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the respondents had been served with the court order and penal notice but failed to comply with the judgment requiring them to surrender the subdivided title deeds. The respondents' application to set aside the judgment had already been dismissed. The court held that the applicants were entitled to the relief sought, specifically the release of the title deeds for registration purposes, as the respondents' non-compliance was unjustified. The court reiterated that, as per the judgment of 15th November 2017, the defendants were directed to sign all documents necessary for the transfer, and in default, the Deputy Registrar was empowered to do so. The application was thus...
Court Disposition
application granted in part
Orders
- Prayer 2 of the application is granted: the title deeds are to be released to the applicants for purposes of effecting registration.
- Costs of the application are awarded to the applicants.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT KAKAMEGA
ELC CASE NO. 400 OF 2014
FLORENCE MAKUNGU HARUN
NITAS ACHANGA INGATSO.........................................PLAINTIFFS/APPLICANTS
VERSUS
STANLEY MAFOLI MUSINDI
SOLOMON MUNYASI ATIANYI .........................DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS
RULING
The application is dated 23rd April 2018 and seeks the following orders:
1. That this honourable court be pleased to order the defendants/respondents to surrender in court title deeds subdivided from the whole original L.P. No. Isukha/Lubao/569 in particular; L.P. Isukha/Lubao/2536 and L.R. No. Isukha/Lubao/2537.
2. That upon prayer No. 1 being granted, this honourable court be pleased to release the said title deeds to the applicants herein for purposes of effecting registration.
3. That without prejudice to prayers number 1 and 2 above, this honourable court be pleased to issue a Notice to Show Cause against the respondents herein for them to show why they should not be committed to civil jail for failure to comply with the terms of the decree and/or judgment made on 15th November, 2017.
4. That this honourable court be pleased to grant any other or further orders that it may deem fit and just to grant in the circumstances.
5. That the costs of this application be borne by the respondents.
It is based on the affidavit of Nitas Achanga Ingatso and on the following grounds that despite being served with the court order together with the penal notice, the respondents have failed to comply making this application necessary.That the registrar of lands has been unable to issue new titles without the previous subdivided titles being surrendered.That the respondents have vowed that they will not comply with the terms of judgment of 15th November, 2017 unless this honourable court intervenes on behalf of the applicants.That the applicants are apprehensive if the orders sought are not granted as prayed, the respondents are likely to transfer the subdivided land to third parties in order to frustrate and prevent them from enjoying the fruits of the judgment.
The respondent submitted that they were not aware of the decree and have applied to set aside the said judgement.
This court has considered the application and the submissions herein. The defendants’ application to set aside the judgement was dismissed with cost on the 11th July 2018. I find this application has merit and I grant prayer 2 of the application with costs to the applicant. Be that as it may my judgement delivered on the 15th November 2017 was very clear that the defendants’ be directed to sign all the documents for the transfer and in default the Deputy Registrar of the court to do so.
It is so ordered.
DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT KAKAMEGA IN OPEN COURT THIS 20TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2018.
N.A. MATHEKA
JUDGE