[2013] KEHC 2952 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff had established a prima facie case by producing ownership documents showing allocation and transfer of the suit property. The risk of irreparable injury was established due to the unique nature of land, which cannot be adequately compensated by damages. The balance of convenience...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2013] KEHC 2952 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Kennedy Orina Mangera; Defendant: Peter Kiarie; Defendant: Embakasi Ranching Company Limited
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 242 of 2013
- Procedural Posture
- Interlocutory Injunction Application / Ruling on Notice of Motion for Interlocutory Injunction
- Outcome
- Application allowed with costs to the applicant.
- Legal Topics
- Interlocutory Injunctions, Land Ownership Disputes, Trespass, Balance of Convenience
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Kennedy Orina Mangera
Plaintiff
Peter Kiarie
Defendant
Embakasi Ranching Company Limited
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Interlocutory Injunction Application / Ruling on Notice of Motion for Interlocutory Injunction
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff has established a prima facie case with a probability of success for grant of interlocutory injunction.
- 2 Whether the plaintiff will suffer irreparable injury 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 established a prima facie case by producing ownership documents showing allocation and transfer of the suit property. The risk of irreparable injury was established due to the unique nature of land, which cannot be adequately compensated by damages. The balance of convenience also favoured the plaintiff, who had been in possession of the property for a significant period before the alleged trespass. The application was uncontested, further supporting the grant of the interlocutory injunction.
Court Disposition
Application allowed with costs to the applicant.
Orders
- An interlocutory injunction is granted restraining the defendants from trespassing and constructing on Plot Nos. G113 and G113B pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
- Costs of the application are awarded to the applicant.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
ELC. CASE NO. 242 OF 2013
KENNEDY ORINA MANGERA………...……………………….PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
PETER KIARIE ………………………………………..1ST DEFENDANT
EMBAKASI RANCHING COMPANY LIMITED ……2ND DEFENDANT
RULING
Coming up before me for determination is the Notice of Motion dated 19/12/12 in which the Plaintiff/Applicant is seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendants from trespassing and constructing on land parcels known as Plot Nos. G113 and G113B (hereinafter referred to as the “Suit Property”) pending the hearing and determination of this application and the main suit. He also requests for costs.
The application is based upon the grounds appearing on the face thereof and the Supporting Affidavit of the Plaintiff/Applicant in which he swore that he bought the Suit Property from one George M. Kinyuru who was the original allottee thereof from Embakasi Ranching Company Limited. He further swore that George M. Kinyuru transferred to him the Suit Property and he was issued a Share Certificate No. 1339 by the 2nd Defendant which proves his proprietorship over the Suit Property. He further stated that the 1st Defendant has encroached and trespassed into the Suit Property and has commenced construction thereon causing him apprehension that the Suit Property will be wasted, alienated or transferred.
The application is uncontested. Though both Defendants were duly served, none of them filed their response to this application.
The Principles to be followed when considering whether or not to grant an interlocutory injunction were very well enunciated in the celebrated case of Giella v. Cassman Brown [1973] EA 358as follows:
That Applicant must show that he has a prima facie case which has chances of success at the main suit.
That if not granted the orders, the applicant is bound to suffer irreparable injury which cannot be compensated with damages.
If the court is in doubt, it will decide the application on the balance of convenience.
To establish a prima facie case, the Applicant must establish that he has a genuine and arguable case. In the instant case, the Applicant has produced his documents of ownership which have shown on a prima facie basis that the Suit Property was allocated to one George M. Kinyuru by the 2nd Defendant who in turn transferred the same to the Applicant. This court finds therefore that the Applicant has established a prima facie case with a probability of success at the main trial. As to whether he will suffer irreparable injury not capable of being compensated with an award of damages, I find in his favour owing to the fact that land is unique and no one parcel of land can be properly equated with another in value. On a balance of convenience, I rule in favour of the Applicant who had been in possession of the Suit Property from 1998 upto the year 2011 when the 1st Respondent is reported to have encroached thereon.
In light of the foregoing, I hereby allow the application with costs to the Applicant.
SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI THIS 26TH
DAY OF JULY 2013.
MARY M. GITUMBI
JUDGE