[2023] KEELC 15904 (KLR)

[2023] KEELC 15904 (KLR)

The court found that the petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof required to establish that the deceased had any legal or equitable interest in the suit land allegedly compulsorily acquired by the government. The evidence presented, including gazette notices and correspondence, did not identify the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] KEELC 15904 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Fridah Khaoma Nyongesa; Applicant: William Makokha Tengeye; Respondent: County Government of Bungoma; Respondent: Agricultural Finance Corporation; Respondent: NG-CDF Office Kimilili Constituency; Respondent: Attorney General; Respondent: National Land Commission
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Bungoma
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Environment & Land Petition E002 of 2022
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Judgment
Outcome
petition dismissed
Judges
BN Olao
Legal Topics
Compulsory Acquisition, Right to Property, Constitutional Petition Threshold, Delay and Laches, Burden of Proof, Compensation for Land
Source Language
en
Land and Property Constitutional Law Compulsory Acquisition Right to Property Constitutional Petition Threshold Delay and Laches Burden of Proof Compensation for Land

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Downloadable case file Legal principles 5 Authorities cited 10 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 3
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Fridah Khaoma Nyongesa

Applicant

William Makokha Tengeye

Applicant

County Government of Bungoma

Respondent

Agricultural Finance Corporation

Respondent

NG-CDF Office Kimilili Constituency

Respondent

Attorney General

Respondent

National Land Commission

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Petition / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the petition meets the threshold of a constitutional petition.
  2. 2 Whether the petitioners proved entitlement to the remedies sought for alleged compulsory acquisition and non-compensation.
  3. 3 Whether the petition is defeated by inordinate delay in bringing the claim.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof required to establish that the deceased had any legal or equitable interest in the suit land allegedly compulsorily acquired by the government. The evidence presented, including gazette notices and correspondence, did not identify the deceased or his father as the owner of the land, nor did it demonstrate that the land was acquired from them through compulsory acquisition. The court also held that the delay of over 80 years in bringing the claim was inordinate and unexplained, and that such delay undermined the credibility and viability of the petition. The absence of responses from most respondents did not...

Court Disposition

petition dismissed

Orders

  • The petition is dismissed for lack of merit.
  • Costs awarded to the 2nd respondent (Agricultural Finance Corporation).