[2019] KEELC 3700 (KLR)
The court determined that since the 4th and 5th Defendants were only recently enjoined to the suit and claim a beneficial interest in the property, they must be given an opportunity to be heard before any eviction orders are enforced against them. The court exercised its inherent jurisdiction under Section 3A of the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEELC 3700 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: John Chuchu Muchai; Defendant: Andrew Njenga Mungai; Defendant: Ian Kamau Mungai; Defendant: Margaret Nyambura Mungai; Defendant: Allan Ngere Mungai; Defendant: Edigar Kago Mungai
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Thika
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 100 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Temporary Injunction and Status Quo Orders
- Outcome
- Status quo order granted in favour of 4th and 5th Defendants/Applicants pending hearing and determination of the Amended Plaint.
- Judges
- LN Gacheru
- Legal Topics
- Eviction Orders, Status Quo Orders, Joinder of Parties, Temporary Injunctions
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
John Chuchu Muchai
Plaintiff
Andrew Njenga Mungai
Defendant
Ian Kamau Mungai
Defendant
Margaret Nyambura Mungai
Defendant
Allan Ngere Mungai
Defendant
Edigar Kago Mungai
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Temporary Injunction and Status Quo Orders
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the 4th and 5th Defendants, recently enjoined, are entitled to temporary injunctive relief to prevent eviction from the suit property pending hearing and determination of the Amended Plaint.
- 2 Whether the status quo should be maintained in respect of the 4th and 5th Defendants until the main suit is heard and determined.
Ratio Decidendi
The court determined that since the 4th and 5th Defendants were only recently enjoined to the suit and claim a beneficial interest in the property, they must be given an opportunity to be heard before any eviction orders are enforced against them. The court exercised its inherent jurisdiction under Section 3A of the Civil Procedure Act and relevant Practice Directions to order maintenance of the status quo in respect of the 4th and 5th Defendants only, pending the hearing and determination of the Amended Plaint. This ensures that their rights are not prejudiced without due process, while not disturbing earlier orders against the other Defendants.
Court Disposition
Status quo order granted in favour of 4th and 5th Defendants/Applicants pending hearing and determination of the Amended Plaint.
Orders
- Status quo prevailing over Kiambaa/Kihara/2334 to be maintained in respect of 4th and 5th Defendants/Applicants only until the Amended Plaint dated 18th October 2018 is heard and determined.
- Parties to comply with Order 11 within 30 days for expeditious hearing.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
34 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT THIKA
ELC CASE NO.100 OF 2018
JOHN CHUCHU MUCHAI...................................................PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT
VERSUS
ANDREW NJENGA MUNGAI..................................1ST DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
IAN KAMAU MUNGAI.............................................2ND DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
MARGARET NYAMBURA MUNGAI....................3RD DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
ALLAN NGERE MUNGAI...........................................4TH DEFENDANT/APPLICANT
EDIGAR KAGO MUNGAI...........................................5TH DEFENDANT/APPLICANT
RULING
There is an Amended Plaint filed on 15th November 2018, wherein the Plaintiff has sought for various prayers against the Defendants among them an order of eviction against the Defendants jointly and severally from the suit property with immediate effect. The suit property is Kiambaa/Kihara/2334. In the Amended Plaint, the Plaintiff enjoined the 4th and 5th Defendants and it was alleged that the Defendants have trespassed on the suit property and have erected permanent structures thereon.
However, on 12th October 2018, the 4th and 5th Defendants before their joinder to the suit had filed a Notice of Motion application dated 11th October 2018, wherein they sought temporary injunctive orders against the Plaintiff seeking that the Plaintiff be restrained from evicting them, disposing off, selling and or alienating LR.No.Kiambaa/Kihara/2334, wherein they reside. They alleged that Plaintiff has acquired an Eviction Orders against the Defendants and the 4th and 5th Defendants do claim beneficial interest on the suit property which claim had not been brought to the attention of the court.
The application is opposed by the Plaintiff and supported by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents. Written submissions have been filed which the Court had considered alongside pleadings herein.
It is evident that the Plaintiff is seeking for Eviction Orders against the Defendants. If that is the case, then the Defendants are in occupation. The 4th and 5th Defendants have alleged that the Plaintiff has served them with Eviction Notice, which they were not aware since they were not parties to this suit before.
Before evicting the 4th and 5th Defendants, the two need to be granted an opportunity to be heard and that opportunity will arise during the hearing of the Amended Plaint.
The Court finds that as provided by Section 3A of the Civil Procedure Act and the Environment and Land Court Practice Directions No.32, the necessary orders herein is an order of maintenance of the status quo order in respect of 4th and 5th Defendants/Applicants until the Amended Plaint dated 18th October 2018 is heard and determined. However this Order does not affect the earlier Orders against the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Defendants issued by this Court and the Court of Appeal. The Order is only in respect of 4th and 5th Defendants/Applicants, who have only been enjoined recently to the suit.
If after the main trial the Court will find the Plaintiff’s case is merited, then an order of eviction against the 4th and 5th Defendants/Applicants will be granted as prayed together with other consequential orders.
From the foregoing, the Court makes the following orders. That the status quo prevailing at the moment over the suit property Kiambaa/Kihara/2334be maintained in respect of 4th and 5th Defendants/Applicants only until the Amended Plaint dated 18th October 2018 is heard and determined.
Further, parties to comply with Order 11 within the next 30 days so that the suit herein can be heard expeditiously and disputed issues resolved at once.
It is so ordered.
Dated, Signed and Delivered at Thika this 1st day ofApril, 2019.
L. GACHERU
JUDGE
1/4/2019
In the presence of
M/S Mwachiro for Plaintiff/Respondent
Mr. Wafula h/b for Mr. Mburu for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Defendants/Respondents
Mr. Kago for 4th & 5th Defendants/Applicants
Lucy - Court Assistant
Court–Ruling read in open court in the presence of the above advocates.
L. GACHERU
JUDGE
1/4/2019