[2025] KEELC 3568 (KLR)
The court held that the Chief Magistrate's Court at Kapsabet lacks jurisdiction to entertain a counterclaim for adverse possession, as such claims are reserved for the Environment and Land Court. This position is supported by binding appellate authority. Since the respondent did not oppose the application and the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2025] KEELC 3568 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Paul Lagat; Applicant: Rodha Lagat; Respondent: Rosaline Jeptum Cheruiyot
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Kapsabet
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Miscellaneous Case E001 of 2025
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Transfer of Suit for Want of Jurisdiction
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Judges
- GMA Ongondo
- Legal Topics
- Transfer of Suit, Jurisdiction of Courts, Adverse Possession, Eviction Proceedings
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Paul Lagat
Applicant
Rodha Lagat
Applicant
Rosaline Jeptum Cheruiyot
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Transfer of Suit for Want of Jurisdiction
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Chief Magistrate's Court at Kapsabet has jurisdiction to hear and determine a counterclaim based on adverse possession.
- 2 Whether the suit should be transferred to the Environment and Land Court for hearing and determination.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the Chief Magistrate's Court at Kapsabet lacks jurisdiction to entertain a counterclaim for adverse possession, as such claims are reserved for the Environment and Land Court. This position is supported by binding appellate authority. Since the respondent did not oppose the application and the legal position on jurisdiction is clear, the court found the application merited. Accordingly, the court allowed the transfer of Kapsabet Chief Magistrate’s Court Land Case No. E020 of 2023 to the Environment and Land Court for hearing and determination.
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- Kapsabet Chief Magistrate’s Court Land Case No. E020 of 2023 is hereby transferred to the Environment and Land Court at Kapsabet for hearing and determination.
- The application is disposed of in its entirety as allowed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
24 paragraphs
Lagat & another v Cheruiyot (Environment & Land Miscellaneous Case E001 of 2025) [2025] KEELC 3568 (KLR) (6 May 2025) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2025] KEELC 3568 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Environment and Land Court at Kapsabet
Environment & Land Miscellaneous Case E001 of 2025
GMA Ongondo, J
May 6, 2025
Between
Paul Lagat
1st Applicant
Rodha Lagat
2nd Applicant
and
Rosaline Jeptum Cheruiyot
Respondent
Ruling
1. By the Notice of Motion application dated 13th January 2025, the applicants through Lagat Joshua and Company Advocates are seeking the following principal order that this Honourable Court be pleased to call into this Honourable Court, Kapsabet Chief Magistrate’s court Land Case number E020 of 2023 for purpose of transferring the same to this Honourable Court for hearing and determination.
2. The application is founded upon grounds which include;(a)The Plaintiff instituted the suit herein before Kapsabet Chief Magistrate Court as Land case number 20 of 2023 seeking eviction of the applicants herein.(b)During the pendency of the said proceedings the Court of Appeal in Nairobi Civil Appeal number E141 of 2022 rendered a judgment to the effect that issues adverse possession is the preserve of Environment and Land Court.(c)It is apparent that Kapsabet Chief Magistrate court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the counter claim in the said suit as currently constituted.
3. Mr Lagat learned counsel for the applicants has implored the court to allow the application.
4. Mr Tarigo learned counsel for the respondent has no opposition to the application.
5. Having considered the entire application and subscribing to the Court of Appeal decision in Sugawara v Kiruti (Sued in her capacity as the administratrix of the Estate of Mutarakwa Kiruti Lepaso alias Mutarakwa Kiruti Lepaso alias Mutaragwa Kiroti Leposo and in her own Capacity & 3 others (2024) eKLR on jurisdiction over adverse possession claims and the Supreme Court of Kenya decision in the case of Republic v Karisa Chengo & 2 others (2017) eKLR on jurisdiction generally, I find the application steadfast and merited.
6. In the upshot, the application is hereby allowed in terms of order 3 sought in the application as stated in paragraph 1 hereinabove and the application in entirety is disposed of accordingly.
7. It is so ordered.
DATED AND DELIVERED AT KAPSABET THIS 6TH DAY OF MAY 2025. G M A ONGONDOJUDGEPresent;Mr Lagat learned counsel for the applicantsMr Tarigo learned counsel for the reespondentMr Walter Kipkorir, court assistant