[2023] KEELC 16042 (KLR)
The court held that since judgment had already been entered on October 5, 2021, and had not been set aside or varied, the court was functus officio and lacked jurisdiction to grant the injunctive orders sought by the defendant. The application was therefore frivolous and could not be entertained in a non-existent...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEELC 16042 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Richmond Macharia Kariuki; Defendant: Alex Achola Owino
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 527 of 2013
- Procedural Posture
- Environment and Land Case / Ruling on Post Judgment Injunction Application
- Outcome
- application dismissed with costs to the plaintiff
- Judges
- LN Mbugua
- Legal Topics
- Injunctions, Functus Officio, Land Allocation Disputes
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Richmond Macharia Kariuki
Plaintiff
Alex Achola Owino
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Ruling on Post Judgment Injunction Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court can grant an injunction restraining the plaintiff from dealing with the suit property after judgment has been entered and not set aside.
- 2 Whether the court is functus officio in the circumstances.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that since judgment had already been entered on October 5, 2021, and had not been set aside or varied, the court was functus officio and lacked jurisdiction to grant the injunctive orders sought by the defendant. The application was therefore frivolous and could not be entertained in a non-existent suit. The court dismissed the application with costs to the plaintiff.
Court Disposition
application dismissed with costs to the plaintiff
Orders
- The defendant's application dated October 13, 2022 is dismissed with costs to the plaintiff.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
Kariuki v Owino (Environment & Land Case 527 of 2013) [2023] KEELC 16042 (KLR) (9 March 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEELC 16042 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
Environment & Land Case 527 of 2013
LN Mbugua, J
March 9, 2023
Between
Richmond Macharia Kariuki
Plaintiff
and
Alex Achola Owino
Defendant
Ruling
1. Judgement was entered for the plaintiff in this matter on October 5, 2021. The defendant’s application dated October 13, 2022 is for determination before the court, where he seeks orders that the plaintiff herein be restrained by injunction from selling, dealing with or in any other way interfering with the property known as plot No C4 - 164 Kayole until the final determination of the suit herein. He also seeks an order directing the lands office to lodge a caveat/caution to preserve the suit property and an order that the OCS Kayole police station do assist in the enforcement of the orders.
2. The application is based on grounds on its face and on the defendant’s supporting affidavit sworn on October 13, 2022. He deposes that the plot No C4 - 164 Kayole was allotted to him on November 6, 2012. He further deposes that that the court allowed his application to set aside the judgment dated October 5, 2021 but the respondent intends to sell the land before the matter is determined yet he has developed it.
3. The application is opposed by the plaintiff by way of grounds of opposition and notice of preliminary objection dated January 13, 2023. The plaintiff states that this honourable court is functus officio as the judgment delivered herein has not been set aside.
4. I have duly considered the arguments advanced herein. I find that judgement was entered in this matter on October 5, 2021. The said judgement has not been varied or set aside as claimed by the applicant. The defendant seeks an injunction restraining the plaintiff from dealing with the suit property pending hearing of the matter. However such orders cannot be granted in a none existent suit. I therefore find that the application dated October 13, 2022 is frivolous, the same is hereby dismissed with costs to the plaintiff.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI THIS 9THDAY OF MARCH, 2023 THROUGH MICROSOFT TEAMS.LUCY N. MBUGUAJUDGEIn the presence of:-DefendantGithui for Plaintiff/RespondentCourt assistant: Vanilla