[2014] KEELC 657 (KLR)
The court held that there was no valid reason to deny the plaintiffs' application to amend the Originating Summons to reflect the correct land parcel number. The amendment would not prejudice the defendant, as it merely allows the plaintiffs to plead their case as they wish. The substantive issues regarding the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2014] KEELC 657 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Joseph Moturi Isoe; Plaintiff: Isaac Oyaro; Defendant: Samuel Kanyi Maingi
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Eldoret
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 21 of 2014
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Amend Originating Summons
- Outcome
- application to amend originating summons allowed
- Legal Topics
- Amendment of Pleadings, Adverse Possession, Originating Summons, Limitation of Actions
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Joseph Moturi Isoe
Plaintiff
Isaac Oyaro
Plaintiff
Samuel Kanyi Maingi
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Amend Originating Summons
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiffs should be granted leave to amend the Originating Summons to reflect the correct land parcel number.
- 2 Whether there is any prejudice to the defendant if the amendment is allowed.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that there was no valid reason to deny the plaintiffs' application to amend the Originating Summons to reflect the correct land parcel number. The amendment would not prejudice the defendant, as it merely allows the plaintiffs to plead their case as they wish. The substantive issues regarding the origin of the land parcel and the merits of the adverse possession claim are not for determination at this stage. The court emphasized that amendments should generally be allowed to facilitate the just determination of disputes, provided no injustice is occasioned to the other party. Accordingly, the application to amend was allowed, with directions for the plaintiffs to file and...
Court Disposition
application to amend originating summons allowed
Orders
- Plaintiffs to formally file and serve the amended Originating Summons within 7 days.
- Costs of the application to be borne by the plaintiffs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
24 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRNMENT AND LAND COURT OF KENYA AT ELDORET
E&L 21 OF 2014
IN THE MATTER OF LIMITATION OF ACTIONS ACT CAP 221 LAWS OF KENYA
IN THE MATTER OF
LAND PARCEL NUMBER UASIN GISHU KIMUMU/6874
AND
IN THE MATTER OF REGISTERED LAND ACT 2012
JOSEPH MOTURI ISOE.........................................................1ST PLAINTIFF
ISAAC OYARO......................................................................2ND PLAINTIFF
VS
SAMUEL KANYI MAINGI.............................................................DEFENDANT
(Application to amend Originating Summons; No reason to deny party to amend; application allowed)
RULING
This suit was commenced by way of an Originating Summons filed on 28 January 2014. The Originating Summons has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Order 37 Rule 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules, and Section 38 of the Limitation of Actions Act, CAP 22, Laws of Kenya. The summons as filed is a claim for adverse possession over land described as Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/244/6 and Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/244/9.
Through an application dated 17 July 2014, the applicants (whom I will also refer to as plaintiffs for ease of reference) have applied to amend the Originating Summons so as to have the property described as Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/6874. In the supporting affidavit to the application, the plaintiffs have averred that in 1997 the defendant sold to them the land parcel number Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/244. It is averred that the land has now undergone sub-divisions and the same has now changed to the parcel Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/6874. They have stated that it is important that the O.S be amended to reflect this position.
The defendant has opposed the application to amend the Originating Summons. He has denied having sold land to the plaintiffs and has also denied that the land parcel Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/6874 arose from a sub-division of Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/244. There are other averments in the affidavit denying the claim in the O.S but I think the same are not relevant to the application to amend.
I have considered the application and looked at the draft Amended Originating Summons. Courts are generally liberal when it comes to applications to amend. Allowing an amendment does not mean that the claim is now allowed. It simply permits the party seeking to amend, leeway to plead his/her own case as he/she so wishes. If the applicants wish to amend their pleadings to claim a land parcel Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/6874, that is their prerogative. Whether or not the parcel Uasin Gishu/ Kimumu/6874 arose from a sub-division of Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/244 is not for me to decide at this point in time. Again, whether or not the plaintiffs have been in possession or not, and whether or not they have a legitimate claim over the land, is also not for me to decide at this point. If they want to claim the land parcel Uasin Gishu/ Kimumu/6874, I don’t see why I should stop them from doing so.
In essence, I see no reason why I should disallow the application for amendment. It is hereby allowed. I direct the plaintiffs to formally file and serve the amended Originating Summons within 7 days. The costs of the application will however be borne by the plaintiffs.
It is so ordered.
DATED AND DELIVERED AT ELDORET THIS 27TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2014
JUSTICE MUNYAO SILA
ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT ELDORET.
Delivered in the presence of: