[2025] KECA 537 (KLR)

[2025] KECA 537 (KLR)

The Court of Appeal held that at the time of the demolition, the respondents were the registered proprietors of the suit property by virtue of a judicial order, and their title had not been lawfully revoked. The appellant, as the party with a vested interest in the land, was found to have instigated or tacitly...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2025] KECA 537 (KLR)
Parties
Appellant: Kenya Railways Corporation; Respondent: Johannes Akelo Omboto; Respondent: Graduce Omboto Akelo
Court
Court of Appeal
Court Station
Court of Appeal at Kisumu
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Civil Appeal 78 of 2020
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
Appeal dismissed with costs to the respondents.
Judges
MSA Makhandia, P Nyamweya, LK Kimaru
Legal Topics
Compulsory Acquisition, Right to Property, Due Process, Damages for Constitutional Violations, Public Land Vesting, Judicial Review
Source Language
en
Land and Property Constitutional Law Civil Procedure Compulsory Acquisition Right to Property Due Process Damages for Constitutional Violations Public Land Vesting +1 more

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Parties

Kenya Railways Corporation

Appellant

Johannes Akelo Omboto

Respondent

Graduce Omboto Akelo

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the appellant instigated, approved, or sanctioned the demolition of the respondents' property by the Cabinet Secretary and KPA.
  2. 2 Whether the respondents were entitled to compensation for breach of their constitutional rights under Articles 40, 43, and 47 of the Constitution.
  3. 3 Whether the respondents' acquisition of the suit property was lawful and whether their title was valid at the time of the demolition.

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal held that at the time of the demolition, the respondents were the registered proprietors of the suit property by virtue of a judicial order, and their title had not been lawfully revoked. The appellant, as the party with a vested interest in the land, was found to have instigated or tacitly approved the actions of the Cabinet Secretary and KPA in demolishing the respondents' property. The court found that the appellant's conduct, including the demolition without notice or compensation and without a court order, constituted a violation of the respondents' constitutional rights under Articles 40 (protection of property), 43 (economic and social rights), and 47 (fair...

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed with costs to the respondents.

Orders

  • The appeal is dismissed in its entirety.
  • The judgment and decree of the Environment and Land Court awarding general damages of Kshs. 5,000,000 and compensation for loss of rental income of Kshs. 473,974 per month from 14th August 2019 to the date of judgment is upheld.