[2020] KEELC 2177 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant, despite being a brother to the deceased, failed to demonstrate any legal or beneficial interest in the suit land or the estate of the deceased. He was neither a child nor a dependant of the deceased, nor had he applied for or obtained a grant of letters of administration. The...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEELC 2177 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Estate of John Mwenesi Adulu (represented by Ebby Musimbi Mwenesi); Defendant: Saul Egunza Bunyali; Defendant: Ebrahim Omwenyi Ambwere; Defendant: Harry City Ambwere; Defendant: West Kenya Sugar Co. Ltd.; Defendant: Passels Simiyu Wanyama; Applicant: Jackson Kasasi Adulu
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Kitale
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Land Case 21 of 2011
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Joinder as Interested Party
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Judges
- FM Njoroge
- Legal Topics
- Joinder of Parties, Succession and Administration, Interest in Land, Delay in Application
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Estate of John Mwenesi Adulu (represented by Ebby Musimbi Mwenesi)
Plaintiff
Saul Egunza Bunyali
Defendant
Ebrahim Omwenyi Ambwere
Defendant
Harry City Ambwere
Defendant
West Kenya Sugar Co. Ltd.
Defendant
Passels Simiyu Wanyama
Defendant
Jackson Kasasi Adulu
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Joinder as Interested Party
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant has demonstrated sufficient interest to be enjoined as an interested party in the suit.
- 2 Whether the delay in bringing the application for joinder is justified.
- 3 Whether joinder of the applicant will assist the court to effectually and completely adjudicate upon and settle all the issues involved in the suit.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant, despite being a brother to the deceased, failed to demonstrate any legal or beneficial interest in the suit land or the estate of the deceased. He was neither a child nor a dependant of the deceased, nor had he applied for or obtained a grant of letters of administration. The court further held that the plaintiff, as the holder of the grant and administrator of the estate, was the proper party to prosecute the suit. The application for joinder was also brought after an inordinate and unexplained delay of nine years, which the court found unjustified. Consequently, the court concluded that the applicant's joinder would not assist in the effective and...
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The application dated 20/1/2020 is dismissed with costs to the respondent.
- The suit to be set down for further hearing on a date to be issued by the Deputy Registrar.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
35 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT KITALE
LAND CASE NO. 21 OF 2011
ESTATE OF JOHN MWENESI ADULU
Represented by
EBBY MUSIMBI MWENESI.....................................PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
SAUL EGUNZA BUNYALI…………………..1ST DEFENDANT
EBRAHIM OMWENYI AMBWERE…….…2ND DEFENDANT
HARRY CITY AMBWERE………………….3RD DEFENDANT
WEST KENYA SUGAR CO. LTD…….……..4TH DEFENDANT
PASSELS SIMIYU WANYAMA……….....….5TH DEFENDANT
AND
JACKSON KASASI
ADULU………...…………INTERESTED PARTY/APPLICANT
RULING
1. The application dated 20/1/2020 which was filed in court on the same date was brought by the interested party/applicant seeking the following orders:
(1) That the applicant be granted leave to be enjoined as an interested party to this suit and to file his pleadings according.
(2) That the costs of this application be borne by the plaintiff.
2. The applicant brought the application under Sections 1A, 1B and 3A of the Civil Procedure Act, and Order 1 Rule 1, Order 51 Rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules.
3. The application is supported an affidavit of the applicant sworn on 20/1/2020. The grounds on which the application is made are that the intended interested party, being a brother to the deceased, has an interest in the suit land.
4. The plaintiff filed a replying affidavit on 3/2/2020 in which she responded to the application as follows: that the applicant is her uncle who settled on the ancestral land with his family but he is not a beneficiary of the deceased’s estate as he was neither a child nor a dependant of the deceased; that the deceased settled Dorcas Imali, his second wife on Plot No. 165 Ndalu Settlement Scheme which measures 45 acres and that the allotment was in her name; that the land comprised in plot No. 147 Kamakoiywa Settlement Scheme was reserved for the plaintiff’s mother’s family; that the only succession cause in respect of her father was Kitale PMC Succession Cause No. 125 of 1994and she was issued with a grant and certificate of confirmation and plot No. 147 was thereby transmitted to her; that no evidence of a grant in favour of Dorcas Imali is exhibited; that Dorcas Imali never became an administrator to the deceased’s estate and could therefore not transfer plot No. 147 to the 1st defendant; that the applicant has had knowledge of this suit and no good explanation is given for the 9 yeardelay that occurred before filing the application and that there are no good grounds to enjoin him into this suit as that will cause further delay.
5. I have perused through the court record and found no submissions on the part of the applicant. The respondent filed her submissions. I have perused the application and the grounds relied on by the applicant as well as the response by the respondent.
6. In my view the applicant has not sufficiently justified his application to be enjoined as a party in any capacity in this suit. The very fact that he is a brother to the deceased per sedoes not necessarily imply that he has an interest in the suit land; he has not shown that he was either a child or a dependant of the deceased or that he ever applied for a grant of letters of administration to the deceased Adulu’s estate. He has also not demonstrated that Dorcas Imali ever became an administrator to the deceased’s estate. I am persuaded that the plaintiff having taken out letters of administration is the proper party to agitate the suit. Joinder of the applicant in this suit as proposed by the application will not in my view assist this court to effectually and completely adjudicate upon and settle all the issues involved in the suit. Besides, the application has been brought after a long and unexplained delay.
7. Consequently, I dismiss the application dated 20/1/2020 with costs to the respondent only. The suit will be set down for further hearing on a date to be issued by the Deputy Registrar.
Dated, signedanddeliveredatNairobi via teleconferencing on this 30thday ofApril, 2019.
MWANGI NJOROGE
JUDGE
Ruling delivered via teleconferencing in the presence of:
Mr Kiarie for the plaintiff;
Mr Teti for the 1st defendant;
Mr Arusei for the Interested Party
Mr Wekesa for the 5th defendant and
Mercyline Lubia, Deputy Registrar.
N/A for the 2nd -4th Defendants.