[2011] KEHC 539 (KLR)
Although the application was unopposed and the applicant is the registered owner of the suit property, the court found that the close familial relationship between the parties raised the possibility that the land in question could be family land, potentially giving the respondents a legitimate interest. The court...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2011] KEHC 539 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Keresensia Aseta; Respondent: William Kiriago; Respondent: Julius Areri; Respondent: Sabina Rabera
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisii
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 206 of 2011
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction Application
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Judges
- CC Kipkorir
- Legal Topics
- Interlocutory Injunctions, Trespass to Land, Family Land Disputes
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Keresensia Aseta
Applicant
William Kiriago
Respondent
Julius Areri
Respondent
Sabina Rabera
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant is entitled to a temporary injunction restraining the respondents from trespassing or interfering with the suit property pending determination of the suit.
- 2 Whether the familial relationship between the parties affects the applicant's entitlement to injunctive relief.
Ratio Decidendi
Although the application was unopposed and the applicant is the registered owner of the suit property, the court found that the close familial relationship between the parties raised the possibility that the land in question could be family land, potentially giving the respondents a legitimate interest. The court held that granting an injunction in such circumstances would not serve the interests of justice. The application for a temporary injunction was therefore dismissed, and the applicant was directed to prosecute the main suit expeditiously.
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The application for a temporary injunction is dismissed.
- The applicant is directed to take active steps to prosecute the main suit and bring it to an expeditious determination.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
23 paragraphs
No. 3
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KISII
CIVIL CASE NO. 206 OF 2011
KERESENSIA ASETA…………….........…….APPLICANT
-VERSUS-
1. WILLIAM KIRIAGO
2. JULIUS ARERI
3. SABINA RABERA………..…………RESPONDENTS
RULING
The plaintiff/applicant brought a Notice of Motion application dated 26th September 2011 seeking the following orders:-
1. THAT the application be certified urgent and be heard on priority basis.
2. THAT PENDING the hearing of the application inter partes an order of temporary injunction do issue restraining the Defendants/Respondents, their servants, agents or employees from further trespassing into or interfering with the Plaintiff/Applicant or her servants, agents or employees’ peaceful use and enjoyment of the property Wanjare/Bogitaa/1123.
3. THAT PENDING the hearing and determination of the suit an order of temporary injunction do issue restraining the Defendants/Respondents their, servants, agents or employees from further trespassing into or interfering with the Plaintiff’s/Applicant’s or her servants, agents or employees’ peaceful use and enjoyment of the property Wanjare/Bogitaa/1123.
4. THAT the costs of the application be provided for.
The application was certified urgent as per prayer 1 on 30th September, 2011 and an order given for inter partes hearing on priority basis. The application is premised on Order 40 Rules 1 and 2 of the Civil Procedure Rules and Section 3, 3A and 63(c) and (e) of the Civil Procedure Act(Cap 21 Laws of Kenya).
The Applicant has set out various acts of trespass perpetrated by the Defendants/Respondents including harvesting crops and trees from the suit land on diverse dates. She has stated that a Criminal Case (Kisii CM Criminal Case No.337 of 2011) in respect of the acts of trespass by the Respondents is pending before court. Mr. Minda, Counsel for the applicant argued the application before me on 11th October 2011.
A perusal of the affidavit of service shows that the Respondents were served on 4th October 2011. None of them have filed any papers in response and none of them appeared for the inter partes hearing. This means that the present application is unopposed and ought to be allowed. However from my perusal of the affidavit of service, there appears to be close familial relationships between the Plaintiff/Applicant and the respondents. The process server avers on paragraph 3 that the Plaintiff briefed him ‘‘that the 3rd defendant Sabina Rabera is a co-wife and the 1st and 2nd defendants are her co-wife’s sons…’’ This information had neither been provided in the present application nor in the plaint. In my considered view such a relationship raises the possibility, albeit a mere possibility, of the suit land being family land with the attendant possibility of the defendants having a legitimate interest in the same notwithstanding the fact of registration in the plaintiff’s name.
In view of this, I hold that the prayers sought in the present application, to wit, an injunction against the defendants will not serve the interests of justice. Accordingly, I dismiss the application and order that the Applicant take active steps to prosecute the main suit and bring it to an expeditious determination. I make no order as to costs.
Ruling dated, signed and delivered atKisii this 25th day of November 2011.
R. LAGAT KORIR
JUDGE