[2023] KEELC 18891 (KLR)

Kgambi & 17 others v Gatabaki & 2 others; Kariithi & 3 others (Intended Applicant) (Environment & Land Case E012 of 2022) [2023] KEELC 18891 (KLR) (13 July 2023) (Ruling)

Neutral citation: [2023] KEELC 18891 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the Environment and Land Court at Nairobi

Environment & Land Case E012 of 2022

LN Mbugua, J

July 13, 2023

Between

Timothy Irimu Kgambi

1st Applicant

Herman Gichira

2nd Applicant

George Njoroge

3rd Applicant

Naomi Nyambura Mburu

4th Applicant

Margret W Gitau Muchina

5th Applicant

Vipul Shahiknat Bhatt

6th Applicant

Daniel Kimethu Mburu

7th Applicant

Richard Mundia Kariuki

8th Applicant

Fredrick Mwangi Muchoki

9th Applicant

Charles Mathai Matu

10th Applicant

Monique Wangui Matu

11th Applicant

Mary Wairimu Muriuki

12th Applicant

Joseph Muchina Muriuki

13th Applicant

John Gachanga Kaiganaine

14th Applicant

Joseph Kimani Karanja

15th Applicant

George Njoroge Kihanya

16th Applicant

Robert Kamau Kihanya

17th Applicant

Dorothy Wanjiku Guchu

18th Applicant

and

Nancy Wanja Gatabaki

1st Respondent

Suraya Property Group Limited

2nd Respondent

Jacaranda Holdings Property Limited

3rd Respondent

and

Ngari Kariithi

Intended Applicant

Rachael Ngari

Intended Applicant

Alice Mercy Njeri Kinyanjui (Suing as an administrator and personal representatives of the Estate of Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui (Deceased)

Intended Applicant

Grace Kagwiria Mbijiwe

Intended Applicant

Ruling

1. The Intended 21st and 22nd Applicants’ Chamber summons application dated April 20, 2023 is for determination. They seek orders that they be enjoined in the suit herein as the 21st and 22nd Applicants. However, the 19th, 20th and 22nd intended Applicants were joined in these proceedings by consent on May 31, 2023.

2. Therefore, this ruling concerns the issue as to whether the 21st Intended Applicant should be joined in this suit.

3. The application is supported by the annexed affidavit of Alice Mercy Njeri Kinyanjui sworn on April 20, 2023. She avers that she is an administrator of the estate of Joshua Kinyanjui (deceased) who was entitled to 2 plots out of the 40 acre parcel of land that the 1st Respondent and her co-proprietor, Dr Samuel Mundati Gatabaki had sold to the 3rd Respondent.

4. The plots due to Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui (deceased) were identified as LR No 28223/40 and LR No 28223/45 and that just as it is with the 1st to 18th Applicants, the 1st Respondent and her co-proprietor, Dr Samuel Mundati Gatabaki did execute the requisite transfers for the said properties in favour of Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui (deceased), but the 1st Respondent, without any lawful cause refused to release the said transfers to Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui (deceased) to register the said properties in his name.

5. The application is opposed by the 1st Respondent vide her replying affidavit sworn on May 30, 2023. She avers that Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui is not among the individuals who are listed in the deed of indemnity and guarantee dated December 18, 2012 which forms the basis of the Originating summons. She further avers that the 21st Intended Applicant has not laid a basis for being joined to these proceedings as she has not annexed any sale agreement /document to show how the estate of Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui became entitled to any parcel of land belonging to her.

6. She also avers that Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui is the director and majority shareholder of the 3rd Respondent, thus his estate cannot be joined as an Applicant, since it was Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui acting through the 3rd Respondent who took her land and refused to pay the full purchase price.

7. She further states that she sold land to Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui in his individual capacity, but he has never paid the balance. To this end, she has an ongoing case against the Estate of Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui (deceased) to wit Nairobi HCCC 137 of 2015 Nancy Wanja Gatabaki v Johson Joshua Kinyanjui where she has sued for the balance of the purchase price of land, thus if the estate has any claim against her, it should channel it through the aforementioned suit as allowing it to join this suit will be a contravention of Section 6 of the Civil Procedure Act.

8. On May 31, 2023, the suit against the 2nd and 3rd Respondents was withdrawn.

9. The sole issue for determination is whether the 21st Intended Applicant should be joined as an Applicant. Her claim is pegged on the alleged interest of Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui (deceased) in the property known as LR No 28223/40 and LR No 28223/45 hived from LR No 28223/3 (formerly LR No 5980/3, originally LR N 5980).

10. In Communications Commission of Kenya & 4 others v Royal Media Services Limited & 7 others [2014] eKLR the Supreme Court of Kenya held that;“… In determining whether the Applicant should be admitted into these proceedings as an Interested Party we are guided by this Court’s Ruling in the Mumo Matemo case where the Court (at paragraphs 14 and 18) held: “[An] interested party is one who has a stake in the proceedings, though he or she was not party to the cause ab initio. He or she is one who will be affected by the decision of the Court when it is made, either way. Such a person feels that his or her interest will not be well articulated unless he himself or she herself appears in the proceedings, and champions his or her cause…”

11. The 21st Applicant contends that she desires to protect the interests of Joshua Kinyanjui in respect of the two parcels. The nature and extent of her claim can only be ascertained if she is on board this suit. Any claim that the Respondent has against the said estate can be advanced as a Counter Claim.

12. It is noted that the case against the 3rd Respondent has already been withdrawn, hence the issue of the estate of Joshua Kinyanjui being conflicted as a party herein does not arise.

13. For the litigation in Nairobi HCCC 137 of 2015 Nancy Wanja Gatabaki v Johnson Joshua Kinyanjui, I find that indeed the same is pending and concerns a portion of LR No 28223/33 (formerly LR No 5980/3 and originally LR No 5980). However, again it is important that the issue of subjudice be dealt with when the applicant is on board this suit.

14. In the end, I allow the application dated April 20, 2023 for the joinder of the 21st Applicant as an Applicant in these proceedings. Costs there of shall abide the outcome of the suit.

DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI THIS 13TH DAY OF JULY, 2023 THROUGH MICROSOFT TEAMS.LUCY N. MBUGUAJUDGEIn the presence of:-Muturi for the RespondentCourt Assistant: Eddel