[2012] KEHC 123 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff had established a prima facie case with a probability of success by demonstrating his allotment, payment, and possession of the suit plot. The evidence showed he had a beneficial interest and had been in possession for three years. The defendant's actions in attempting to sell and...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2012] KEHC 123 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: James Muriuki Ntuara; Defendant: Embakasi Ranching Company Limited
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 278 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Environmental and Land Case / Interlocutory Application for Injunction
- Outcome
- interlocutory injunction granted
- Legal Topics
- Injunctive Relief, Ownership Disputes, Allocation of Land, Possession Rights
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
James Muriuki Ntuara
Plaintiff
Embakasi Ranching Company Limited
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Environmental and Land Case / Interlocutory Application for Injunction
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff has established a prima facie case with a probability of success for grant of an injunction.
- 2 Whether the plaintiff will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted.
- 3 Whether the balance of convenience favors the grant of an injunction.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiff had established a prima facie case with a probability of success by demonstrating his allotment, payment, and possession of the suit plot. The evidence showed he had a beneficial interest and had been in possession for three years. The defendant's actions in attempting to sell and trespass on the plot, without responding to the application, supported the plaintiff's claim of likely irreparable harm. The balance of convenience favored the plaintiff, as he stood to suffer loss and damage if the injunction was not granted. The court declined to grant an order relating to service, finding no evidence of hostility. Accordingly, the court issued an injunction...
Court Disposition
interlocutory injunction granted
Orders
- An injunction is issued restraining the defendant, its agents, servants, employees, and/or shareholders from evicting the plaintiff, entering, selling, transferring, trespassing, alienating, damaging, developing further, or destroying developments on plot No. V9836 B/H Map within Embakasi Ranching Company Ltd...
- Costs shall be in the cause.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
High Court at Nairobi (Nairobi Law Courts)
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JAMES MURIUKI NTUARA.......................................................................................PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
EMBAKASI RANCHING COMPANY LIMITED......................................................DEFENDANT
RULING
James Muriuki Ntuara the plaintiff/applicant has filed suit against the defendant Embakasi Ranching Company Ltd. In his pliant dated 18/5/12 the plaintiff seeks the he be declared as the lawful exclusive owner /allotee of plot No. 09836B/H Map situate with the defendants ranch. He also seeks an order of permanent injunction against the Dependant. At the time of filing suit the plaintiff/applicant also filed the notice of motion dated the 18/5/12. The motion is brought under order 40 rules 1, 2, 3 & 9 of the Civil Procedure Rule and section 3A of 63 (3) of the Civil Procedure Act. Prayer No. 1 & 2 are spent. The plaintiff/applicant at prayer 5 is seeking an injunction against the defendant, its agent, servants, employees and/or shareholders claiming interest under her from evicting the plaintiff, entering, selling, transferring, trespassing, alienating, damaging and/or developing any further or destroying the developments in the plaintiffs plot No. U9836 B/H Map within Embakasi Ranching Company Ltd pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff’s suit. He also seeks costs of the application.
The application is premised on grounds (a) to (g) on the face of the application.
The defendant was served. Their counsel filed a notice of appointment. The defendant did not respond to the application even after this Court gave their counsel time to do so.
The applicant avers as follows; he is a shareholder of the defendant company under share certificate No. 023725. He was alloted a plot by the defendant after paying the requisite fees. A surveyor assigned by the defendant company took him to the site of the plot and identified it to him i.e plot No. U9336. Thereafter he took possession of the said plot and cleared it, fenced it and planted Kariaria and has enjoyed possession for the last 3 years. What has now made him come to Court is that the defendant sent its workers to the plot to cut all the tress and vegetation. On the 4/5/12 he was informed that the defendant had placed a far sale sign on his plot. He has tried to solve the problem with the defendant through the provincial administration but it has been in vain as the defendant is bent on grabbing his plot. That the defendant’s actions to trespass are unlawful and illegal as his plot is not available for allocation to another shareholders. That he has established a prima facie case against the defendant which has high chance of succeeding.
The plaintiff is seeking an injunction. He has to establish that he has a prima facie case with a probability of success and secondly that he will suffer irreparable damages and if the Court is in doubt it will decide the case on a balance of convenience. The plaintiff has exhibit on non-member certificate of plot owner from plot No. 9836 the suit land. The receipt was issued by the defendant company to the plaintiff. It shows that he paid for survey and engineering on the 21/10/11. He has also annexed on allocated document sharing plot No. U9836 was allocated to J. Kamau, he has also attached copies of photographs of a place that appears to be bushy and is being cleared and on the other with a for sale sign. So far the plaintiff has on what is deponed established a prima facie case with a probability of success. He has demonstrated he has a beneficial interest in the suit land .He avers he has been in possession thus he is likely to suffer loss and damage. The balance of convenience tilts in his favor. I decline to grant prayer 4 as the plaintiff has not shown that he will face hostility in serving the order.
An injunction shall issue against the defendant its agents, servant, employees and/or shareholders claiming interest it from evicting the plaintiff, entering, selling, transferring, trespassing, alienating, damaging and or developing any further or destroying the developments in the plaint its plot No. V9836 B/H Map within Embakasi Ranching Company Ltd pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff's suit. Costs shall be in the cause.
Orders accordingly.
Dated, signed and delivered this 30th day of November 2012.
R. OUGO
JUDGE
In the Presence of:-
.....................................................................................For the Plaintiff/ Applicant
.....................................................................For the Defendants / Respondents
................................................................................................................Court Clerk