[2019] KEELC 1337 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant, having obtained judgment and subsequent orders for the respondent to vacate the suit land, is entitled to enforcement of those orders. The respondent failed to comply within the period allowed and did not oppose the application for eviction. The court held that it cannot abdicate...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEELC 1337 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Margaret Njeri Wachira; Respondent: Eliud Waweru Njenga
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Muranga
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 453 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Notice of Motion / Ruling on Post Judgment Eviction Application
- Outcome
- Application allowed. Eviction orders granted as prayed. No order as to costs.
- Judges
- BC Koech
- Legal Topics
- Eviction Orders, Execution of Judgment, Possession of Land
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Margaret Njeri Wachira
Applicant
Eliud Waweru Njenga
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Notice of Motion / Ruling on Post Judgment Eviction Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant is entitled to eviction orders against the respondent from land parcel MAKUYU/MAKUYU BLOCK II/1240.
- 2 Whether the court should enforce its previous judgment and orders by issuing eviction and ancillary orders.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant, having obtained judgment and subsequent orders for the respondent to vacate the suit land, is entitled to enforcement of those orders. The respondent failed to comply within the period allowed and did not oppose the application for eviction. The court held that it cannot abdicate its responsibility to ensure its orders are obeyed and that the applicant should not be denied the fruits of her judgment. Therefore, the court granted the eviction orders as sought, including ancillary orders for execution and police supervision, to effectuate the delivery of possession to the applicant.
Court Disposition
Application allowed. Eviction orders granted as prayed. No order as to costs.
Orders
- Eviction order issued against Eliud Waweru Njenga from land parcel MAKUYU/MAKUYU BLOCK II/1240 forthwith in execution of the court order dated 13th December 2018.
- HIPPO Auctioneers to execute the eviction order.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
36 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT & LAND COURT
AT MURANGA
ELC NO.453 OF 2017
MARGARET NJERI WACHIRA - PLAINTIFF /APPLICANT
VS
ELIUD WAWERU NJENGA - DEFENDANT /RESPONDENT
RULING
1. This is a ruling in respect to the Notice of Motion application dated 21/2/2019 filed under certificate of urgency by the Plaintiff / Applicant seeking the following orders;
a. Spent.
b. That an eviction order be and is hereby issued against Eliud Waweru Wachira the Defendant / Respondent herein from land parcel number MAKUYU/MAKUYU BLOCK II/1240 forthwith in execution of Court order dated 13th December 2018.
c. That HIPPO Auctioneers to execute the eviction order.
d. That the Officer commanding or Administration Police Commandant Makuyu Police station to supervise and offer security during the eviction exercise.
e. That costs of this application be provided for.
2. The application was premised on the following grounds;
a. That the judgment in this case was passed on the 31/5/2018 by this Honourable Court.
b. THAT the Defendant / Respondent has adamantly refused to remove himself voluntarily from the said land parcel No. MAKUYU/MAKUYU BLOCK II /1240.
c. THAT it’s difficult for the Plaintiff/ Applicant to enjoy the fruits of judgment.
d. That for interest of justice this Honourable Court ought to grant the orders sought.
e. That the Honourable Court has unlimited powers to grant the orders sought herein.
3. The Applicant in her supporting affidavit asserts that she is the legal owner of land parcel number MAKUYU/MAKUYU BLOCK II /1240 which the Defendant is in illegal occupation of and the Applicant has since obtained a judgment and Court order ``on 13th December 2018 in her favour ordering the Defendant to vacate the said land but the Defendant has adamantly defied the Court orders and refused to vacate. That she intends to develop the suit land for her own use which is impossible to do while the Defendant remains in illegal occupation of the same. The Applicant seeks for eviction orders to issue against the Respondent.
4. The Respondent despite being duly served with the instant application as per the return of service on record dated 06/03/2019 failed to file any response neither did he heed to the hearing notice served upon him as he again failed to attend Court when the same came up for hearing. The application is thus unopposed.
5. Counsel for the Applicant submitted that the Applicant seeks for eviction orders as prayed and relied on the grounds on the face of the application particularly the refusal by the Respondent to vacate the suit land.
6. Essentially the Applicant seeks execution of the orders of this Honourable Court in its judgment delivered on 31/5/2018 and orders subsequently issued on 13/12/2018. The order of the Court precisely directed the Respondent to vacate the suit land within sixty days of the judgment and in default eviction orders to issue in accordance of the law. The period graciously allowed to the Respondent by the Court to deliver vacant possession to the Applicant of her land has since lapsed. That the Applicant is entitled to enjoy the fruits of her judgment.
7. The provisions of Order 22 Rule 29 of the Civil procedure Rules provide for execution of a decree of immovable property and delivery of possession.
8. The Court is of the view that it is within its mandate to make further orders to serve the limited purposes of enforcing its judgment. The Court cannot fold its hands as by doing so will cause hardship to the decree holder who should enjoy the fruits of his judgement.
9. The upshot is that the application is allowed in terms of prayers 2, 3 & 4.
10. I make no orders as to costs.
11. It is so ordered.
DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT MURANG’A THIS 17TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2019.
J G KEMEI
JUDGE
Delivered in open Court in the presence of;
Mwaniki HB for Bwonwonga for the Plaintiff/Applicant
Defendant/Respondent - Absent but served
Irene and Kuiyaki, Court Assistants