[2016] KEHC 5327 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff is the registered owner of land parcel E. Bukusu/E. Sangalo/3440, having acquired it through a lawful succession process. The defendant, despite being allocated his own six acres, admitted to encroaching on the plaintiff's land without her consent. There was no evidence of any...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEHC 5327 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Frida Namarome Mukanda; Defendant: Thomas Pepela Mukanda
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Bungoma
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 54 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Land Case / Judgment
- Outcome
- Plaintiff's claim for eviction allowed. Defendant to vacate plaintiff's land within 45 days or be forcefully evicted. Costs awarded to plaintiff.
- Legal Topics
- Eviction, Succession Distribution, Land Title, Encroachment
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Frida Namarome Mukanda
Plaintiff
Thomas Pepela Mukanda
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Land Case / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the defendant has unlawfully occupied the plaintiff's land parcel E. Bukusu/E. Sangalo/3440.
- 2 Whether the plaintiff is entitled to an order of eviction against the defendant.
- 3 Whether the distribution of land as per the succession cause is binding on the parties.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiff is the registered owner of land parcel E. Bukusu/E. Sangalo/3440, having acquired it through a lawful succession process. The defendant, despite being allocated his own six acres, admitted to encroaching on the plaintiff's land without her consent. There was no evidence of any challenge to the succession court's distribution or any application for annulment of the grant. The court held that the defendant's occupation of the plaintiff's land was unlawful and that the plaintiff was entitled to exclusive possession and an order of eviction. The defendant was given 45 days to vacate, failing which eviction would be enforced with the assistance of court...
Court Disposition
Plaintiff's claim for eviction allowed. Defendant to vacate plaintiff's land within 45 days or be forcefully evicted. Costs awarded to plaintiff.
Orders
- Defendant to vacate land parcel E. Bukusu/E. Sangalo/3440 within 45 days.
- If defendant fails to vacate within 45 days, plaintiff to evict defendant with assistance of court bailiff and police.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUNGOMA
ENVIRONMENT AND LAND CASE NO. 54 OF 2012
FRIDA NAMAROME MUKANDA.................................................. PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
THOMAS PEPELA MUKANDA..................................................DEFENDANT
JUDGMENT
[1]. The plaintiff and the defendant herein are a mother and son. The plaintiff’s claim is for eviction. She wants the defendant Thomas Pepela Mukanda to be evicted out of her land E. Bukusu/E. Sangalo/3440 which was registered in her name on 4th September 2012.
[2]. The defendant filed a general defence denying that he has never occupied the plaintiffs land and that he has not thrown out the plaintiff out of her land and that she stays peacefully on her land parcel without disturbance.
There is no dispute that the husband of the plaintiff and father of the defendant one Chikoyi Pepela Onula deceased, died ceased of land parcel E. Bukusu/E. Sangalo/2138. His estate was subject to Bungoma High Court Succession Cause No. 374 of 2010. The letters of administration of his estate were issued to Wycliffe Pepela Mukanda on 8th March 2012.
The court distributed his land aforesaid as follows;
1. Vincent Juma Mukanda 5 ½ acres
2. Jotham Nyongesa 4. 85 acres
3. Anna Nasimiyu Iteke 0. 025 ha
4. Shadrack Pepela Mukanda 4. 2 acres
5. Wycliffe Pepela Mukanda 6 acres
6. Silas 5. 3 acres
7. Frida Namarome Mukanda 1 ¾ acres
8. Thomas Pepela Mukanda 6 acres
[3]. It is therefore true that the plaintiff got 1 ¾ acres, while the defendant got 6 acres. Titles were issued and the plaintiff produced in court her title for E. Bukusu/E/ Sangalo/3440.
[4]. The plaintiff gave her evidence that that defendant (her son) has left his portion and is now squatting on a portion of her land of 1 ¾ acres where he has put his second wife and therefore, denying the plaintiff the use and occupation of the land.
[5]. The plaintiff’s case was supported by Wycliffe Pepela Mukanda the administrator of the estate of Chikoyi Pepela Onula who testified how he distributed the estate of the deceased and how Land Control Consents were obtained for the respective parcels and how his mother the plaintiff was given 1 ¾ acres and the defendant was given 6 acres. The witness told the court that he knows for sure that the defendant has encroached on the plaintiff’s land and that he should move out and vacate out of the plaintiff’s land.
[6]. The defendant on his part never disputed the evidence of the plaintiff and the support from the administrator. He only alleged that he was given one acre by his father and that he is the last born. He told the court that he has no witnesses.
[7]. The entitlement of the parties herein have been determined by the High Court succession court in Bungoma. The plaintiff has 1 ¾ acres and the defendant has six (6) acres. I was never told that there is any application for annulment of the grant pursuant to the decision of the High Court in the Succession Cause no. 374 of 2010. The parties will stay on the parcels of land each was granted.
The defendant admitted that he has encroached on the plaintiff’s land where he has put his second wife. He has done so without the consent and permission of the plaintiff. He will now move and vacate out of the plaintiff’s land and move to his land aforesaid. He will have 45 days to do so failing which, the plaintiff will forcefully evict him from her land with the help of the bailiff of this court and the nearest police station and Administration Police. The defendant shall also pay the costs of the suit to the plaintiff and in addition the costs of eviction if he does not move and vacate out of the suit land within the 14 days aforesaid.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATEDatBUNGOMAthis 11th day of May2016
S. MUKUNYA
JUDGE.