[2021] KEELC 3365 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff had demonstrated a prima facie case with a probability of success by providing evidence of registered ownership of the suit land and long-term possession. The absence of any response or defence from the defendant further strengthened the plaintiff's position. The court was...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEELC 3365 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Isaac Munga Manyara; Defendant: Ann Njoki Muna
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Kitale
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 13 of 2021
- Procedural Posture
- Land Case / Interlocutory Application Ruling
- Outcome
- application_allowed
- Legal Topics
- Temporary Injunctions, Land Ownership Disputes, Possession and Eviction, Succession and Beneficiary Rights
- 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
Isaac Munga Manyara
Plaintiff
Ann Njoki Muna
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Land Case / Interlocutory Application Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff has established a prima facie case to warrant the grant of a temporary injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with the suit land pending determination of the suit.
- 2 Whether the plaintiff would suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted.
- 3 Whether the balance of convenience tilts in favour of granting the injunction.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiff had demonstrated a prima facie case with a probability of success by providing evidence of registered ownership of the suit land and long-term possession. The absence of any response or defence from the defendant further strengthened the plaintiff's position. The court was satisfied that the plaintiff would suffer considerable loss if the defendant was not restrained from interfering with his possession, and that damages would not be an adequate remedy given the nature of land rights. Accordingly, the court granted the temporary injunction as sought in the application, pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
Court Disposition
application_allowed
Orders
- A temporary injunction is issued restraining the defendant, her servants, agents, or anybody or authority from taking over, evicting the plaintiff from, selling, disposing of or in any other manner interfering with the plaintiff’s quiet possession of parcels of land known as WAITALUK/KAPKOI BLOCK 11/GUTONGORIO/52...
- The costs of the application shall be in the cause.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT KITALE
LAND CASE NO. 13 OF 2021
ISAAC MUNGA MANYARA................................................PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
ANN NJOKI MUNA............................................................DEFENDANT
RULING
1. The application dated 24/2/2021and filed in court on the same date,has been bought under Sections 1A, 1B, 3, 3A & 63(e)and 80of theCivil Procedure Act, Order 40 Rule 1(a)and2(1)of theCivil Procedure Rules. The plaintiff seeks the following orders:-
(1) …spent
(2) …spent
(3) That a temporary injunction of issue restraining the defendant, her servants, agents, or anybody or authority from taking over, evicting the plaintiff from, selling, disposing of or in any other manner interfering with the plaintiff’s quiet possession of parcels of land known as WAITALUK/KAPKOI BLOCK 11/GUTONGORIO/52 measuring approximately 2. 0223 HA and WAITALUK/KAPKOI BLOCK 11/GUTONGORIO/56 measuring approximately 2. 023 HA pending hearing and final determination of this suit or pending further orders of this honourable court.
(4) That the costs of this application be provided for.
2. The application is supported by the affidavit of the applicant sworn on 24/2/2021. The grounds upon which the application is made are that the plaintiff owns the land known as Waitaluk/Kapkoi Block 11/Gutongorio/52 Measuring Approximately 2. 0223 HaandWaitaluk/Kapkoi Block 11/Gutongorio/56measuring approximately2. 023 Ha; that he was allocated the suit land as a beneficiary of the deceased Clement Munga Muna’s estate by way of a settlement agreement in Succession Cause Number 857 of 1992; that he has been in possession of the suit land and he has been farming on the same for close to 10 years and that the defendant’s act of barring him from the land would occasion the plaintiff irreparable damage and loss unless stopped by way of a court order.
3. The plaintiff has attached a copy of the certificate of official search dated11/1/2021and copies of title deeds issued on 5/3/2012in respect of the suit land showing that the land is registered in his name. Attached to the application is a copy of a settlement agreement apparently entered into between the plaintiff and one Clement Solomon Munga. There is a grant of letters of administration intestate to the estate of Clement Munga Muna (deceased)issued on 12th November 1992 to one Clement Solomon Muna and two other persons.
4. In the plaint he states that the defendant is in trespass and that a declaration that he owns the land and an order on injunction against the defendant should issue in the matter.
5. The defendant has not filed any response to the application as per this court directions of 26/2/2021. An affidavit of service dated 28/2/2021 was filed in the court record on 28/2/2021 stating that the defendant was served with the application at hand.
6. In this court’s view the plaintiff has demonstrated that he has a prima facie case with probability of success and that he may suffer considerable loss if the orders sought are not issued.
7. Consequently I hereby allow the application dated 24/2/2021 in terms of Prayer No. (3) thereof. The costs of the application shall be in the cause.
8. The plaintiff shall ensure that he has complied by filing and service of all documents he relies on by 31/5/2021. As there appears to be no defence on the record the plaintiff shall make the necessary application for judgment to the Deputy Registrar. This matter shall be listed for the fixing of a hearing date on8/6/2021.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT KITALE VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ON THIS 11TH DAY OF MAY, 2021.
MWANGI NJOROGE
JUDGE, ELC, KITALE.