[2012] KEHC 5200 (KLR)

[2012] KEHC 5200 (KLR)

The court held that while Article 40 of the Constitution protects the right to property, this protection does not extend to property found to have been unlawfully acquired, as per Article 40(6). However, a finding of unlawful acquisition must be made through due process established by law, not by administrative...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2012] KEHC 5200 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Isaac Gathungu Wanjohi; Applicant: Isaiah Kirindi Wambugu Mutonyi; Respondent: Attorney General; Respondent: Minister for Roads; Respondent: Kenya Urban Roads Authority; Respondent: China Road and Bridge Corporation; Respondent: Chief Engineer (Roads) Ministry of Roads; Respondent: The Commissioner of Lands; Respondent: Rosaline Njeri Macharia
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Petition 154 of 2011
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Judgment
Outcome
Petition partly allowed; Gazette Notice revoking title declared null and void; damages awarded for breach of due process; state directed to commence proceedings within 12 months if it wishes to challenge the title; costs awarded to petitioners against specified respondents.
Judges
DAS Majanja
Legal Topics
Right to Property, Compulsory Acquisition, Due Process, Indefeasibility of Title, Public Interest, Damages for Breach of Rights
Source Language
en
Constitutional Law Land and Property Right to Property Compulsory Acquisition Due Process Indefeasibility of Title Public Interest Damages for Breach of Rights

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Parties

Isaac Gathungu Wanjohi

Applicant

Isaiah Kirindi Wambugu Mutonyi

Applicant

Attorney General

Respondent

Minister for Roads

Respondent

Kenya Urban Roads Authority

Respondent

China Road and Bridge Corporation

Respondent

Chief Engineer (Roads) Ministry of Roads

Respondent

The Commissioner of Lands

Respondent

Rosaline Njeri Macharia

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Petition / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the petitioners' right to property under Article 40 of the Constitution was violated by the respondents' actions.
  2. 2 Whether the revocation of the petitioners' title by Gazette Notice No. 9230 was lawful and constitutional.
  3. 3 Whether the state and its agencies followed due process in depriving the petitioners of their property.

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that while Article 40 of the Constitution protects the right to property, this protection does not extend to property found to have been unlawfully acquired, as per Article 40(6). However, a finding of unlawful acquisition must be made through due process established by law, not by administrative action or Gazette Notice. The purported revocation of the petitioners' title by Gazette Notice No. 9230 was therefore null and void. The respondents' entry onto the property and reliance on the Gazette Notice constituted a breach of the petitioners' due process rights under Article 47. Although the property may have been part of a road buffer zone, the state must initiate proper...

Court Disposition

Petition partly allowed; Gazette Notice revoking title declared null and void; damages awarded for breach of due process; state directed to commence proceedings within 12 months if it wishes to challenge the title; costs awarded to petitioners against specified respondents.

Orders

  • Gazette Notice Number 9230 dated 29th July 2011 declared null and void.
  • Petitioners awarded Kshs. 1,000,000 as general damages for breach of Article 47 against the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th respondents.