[2007] KEHC 2149 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff had established a prima facie case by producing a title lease dated May 2007 and evidence of purchase from the 1st defendant. The absence of any appearance or challenge from the 1st and 2nd defendants further supported the plaintiff's claim. The court held that to preserve the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2007] KEHC 2149 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Liakatali Shah; Defendant: Frankline Kamathi Kamau; Defendant: Patrick Njogu Kariuki; Defendant: Commissioner of Lands; Defendant: Nairobi City Council; Defendant: Hon. Attorney General
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 2166 of 2007
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Interlocutory Application for Injunction
- Outcome
- interlocutory injunction granted
- Legal Topics
- Injunctive Relief, Land Ownership Disputes, Title Verification
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Liakatali Shah
Applicant
Frankline Kamathi Kamau
Defendant
Patrick Njogu Kariuki
Defendant
Commissioner of Lands
Defendant
Nairobi City Council
Defendant
Hon. Attorney General
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Interlocutory Application for Injunction
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff is entitled to an interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants from taking possession of and constructing on the suit land pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
- 2 Whether the plaintiff has demonstrated a prima facie case with a probability of success regarding ownership of the suit land.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiff had established a prima facie case by producing a title lease dated May 2007 and evidence of purchase from the 1st defendant. The absence of any appearance or challenge from the 1st and 2nd defendants further supported the plaintiff's claim. The court held that to preserve the subject matter of the dispute and prevent irreparable harm, it was just and equitable to grant an interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants from entering or constructing on the suit land until the main suit is heard and determined. The court also directed that all parties be served with summons to enter appearance and that the matter proceed to trial upon...
Court Disposition
interlocutory injunction granted
Orders
- An injunction is issued restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants from constructing or entering the suit premises until finalization of the suit.
- All parties to be served with summons to enter appearance within 15 days of issuance by the deputy registrar.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
52 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAIROBI (NAIROBI LAW COURTS)
Civil Case 2166 of 2007
1. Land and Environmental Law Division
2. Subject of main suit – land ownership
3. Application of 27 September 2007
i) Injunction to issue against 1 and 2 defendants for taking possession of suit land and constructing on it.
ii) 2nd defendant claims ownership but the plaintiff hold title of lease
iii) On reporting to the police, the police confiscated title document.
4. No appearance from any of 3 -4 defendants though served
5. Hearing of application under Order IXb r 3 Civil Procedure Rules
6. Held:
i) Injunction to issue restraining defendant 1 and 2 only from taking possession of land till main suit is heard.
7. Case law - Nil
8. Advocate:
E.K. Mutua for E.K Mutua & Co. advocates for the plaintiff/applicant – present
1. Flankline Kamau )
2. Patrick N. Kariuki )
3. Hon. Attorney General ) The defendants/respondents – all served
4. Commissioner of Lands ) and absent
LIAKATALI SHAH …………………..……………….................APPLICANT
VERSUS
FRANKLINE KAMATHI KAMAU …………...................1ST DEFENDANT
PATRICK NJOGU KARIUKI ……………..……….......… 2ND DEFENANT
THE COMMISSIONER OF LANDS ………..……….....3RD DEFENDANT
NAIROBI CITY COUCNIL …………………......……… 4TH DEFENDANT
THE HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL ……………… 5TH DEFENDANT
RULING
I: Application for injunction to restrain defendant 1 and 2 from taking possession of suit land and Nairobi Block 37/85 issued on 17. 5.07
A: Background of application
1. The subject of the main suit happens to be land LR No. Nairobi/Block 37/85. The plaintiff brought the suit land by way of a sale agreement dated 8 March 2007 from the 1st defendant. He paid a consideration of Ksh.4. 5 million.
2. On 21 September the 2nd defendant moved onto the land to begin to construct. The plaintiffs went immediately to report to the CID police. He produced his proof ownership being the title lease. He was informed herein that his document may be a forgery and was under investigation.
3. The document was accordingly confiscated.
4. The plaintiff filed suit on 27 September 2007 and sought an injunction against the 1 and 2 defendant only.
5. The parties on being served have failed to appear to court.
6. This court proceeded with the hearing of the application under order IXb r3 (a) Civil Procedure Rules.
II: Finding
7. Should an injunction issue?
Most certainly the plaintiff shows that he holds title dated May 2007. That he is the rightful owner of the property unless otherwise proved.
8. I hereby grant the application for an injunction. I order that the 1 and 2 defendants do be restrained from constructing or entering the suit premises. I further order that an injunction do issue against the 1 and 2 defendant till the finalization of the suit.
9. That all parties herein be served until summons to enter appearance within 15 days of the issuance by the deputy registrar of such summons . That parties on putting in their defences and on compliance with pre trial to accordingly proceed to trial of the main suit.
10. The costs to be awarded to the plaintiff paid by 1 and 2nd defendant for the application before court.
11. Dated this 11th day of October 2007 at Nairobi.
M.A. ANG’AWA
JUDGE
E.K. Mutua for E.K Mutua & Co. advocates for the plaintiff/applicant – present
1. Flankline Kamau )
2. Patrick N. Kariuki )
3. Hon. Attorney General ) The defendants/respondents – all served
4. Commissioner of Lands ) and absent
5. Nairobi City Council )