[2018] KEELC 36 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant, as the personal representative of the deceased who allegedly purchased the disputed land, has a claim similar to the existing plaintiffs and an additional claim against the 3rd plaintiff. Enjoining her as a plaintiff is necessary to allow the court to hear all related claims...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEELC 36 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Martin Shikuku Wamalwa & 17 Others; Defendant: Appolos Kennedy Mwangi; Applicant: Everlyne Nanyama Wanyonyi
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Kitale
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 152 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Joinder
- Outcome
- application granted
- Judges
- FM Njoroge
- Legal Topics
- Joinder of Parties, Personal Representative Rights, Land Ownership Disputes, Amendment of Pleadings
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Martin Shikuku Wamalwa & 17 Others
Plaintiff
Appolos Kennedy Mwangi
Defendant
Everlyne Nanyama Wanyonyi
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application for Joinder
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant, as a personal representative of the deceased, should be enjoined as a plaintiff in the suit.
- 2 Whether the applicant has a legitimate claim to the disputed 5 acres of land.
- 3 Whether enjoining the applicant will enable the court to determine the real issues in controversy.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant, as the personal representative of the deceased who allegedly purchased the disputed land, has a claim similar to the existing plaintiffs and an additional claim against the 3rd plaintiff. Enjoining her as a plaintiff is necessary to allow the court to hear all related claims together and determine the real issues in controversy. The court held that her presence is essential for the complete and effectual adjudication of the dispute, and her right to be heard must be protected. The application for joinder was therefore granted, with directions for amendment of pleadings and service of particulars of her claim.
Court Disposition
application granted
Orders
- The applicant, Everlyne Nanyama Wanyonyi, is enjoined as the 19th plaintiff in the suit.
- The plaintiffs shall amend their plaint to reflect the change.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
41 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT KITALE
LAND CASE NO.152 OF 2017
MARTIN SHIKUKU WAMALWA & 17 OTHERS......PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT
VERSUS
APPOLOS KENNEDY MWANGI..............................DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
AND
EVERLYNE NANYAMA WANYONYI...................................................APPLICANT
R U L I N G
1. By an application dated 19/3/2018 the applicant sought the following orders:-
(1) That this honourable court be pleased to certify this application urgent and the same shall be heard ex-parte in the final instance.
(2) That this honourable court be pleased to make an order enjoining the applicant, Everlyne Nanyama Wanyonyi as one of the plaintiffs herein.
(3) That costs of this application be provided for.
2. The grounds on which the said application is made are as follows:-
(a) That the applicant is the personal representative of the estate of her late husband Bernard Anyama Masolo who died on the 10th August, 2015.
(b) That the applicant petitioned for Letters of Administration Intestate of the deceased and issued with a Grant of which was subsequently confirmed on the 23rd August, 2017 vide Kitale CM P&A No. 90 of 2016.
(c) That prior to the death of the deceased, he had purchased 5 acres of land from Title No. Waitaluk/Kapkoi Block 9/Gutongorio/4 measuring 5 acres where they have lived since and after the death of the deceased.
(d) That the agreement which the 3rd plaintiff/respondent is replying on is a forgery and urge the court to look to its authencity as the signature of the Advocates who witnessed, is not the same as the one signed on the agreement dated 22/10/2008.
(e) That a right to be heard is one of the cardinal principals of natural justice.
(f) That enjoining the applicant as one of the plaintiffs will enable the court to hear and determine the real issues in question.
(g) That the plaintiffs and more particularly the 3rd plaintiff who is my mother in-law has secretly without the applicant’s knowledge come to court claiming the whole portion of the 5 acres to be hers.
(h) That from the confirmed grant the said portion is supposed to be shared equally and where 3rd plaintiff is entitled to only 1 acre.
(i) That the applicant is fearing that in the event the plaintiffs succeeds in this suit, then the applicant and the children of the deceased will be rendered landless and be evicted from the 5 acres where they have lived since and after the death of the deceased.
3. The application is supported by the affidavit of the Applicant dated 19/3/2018.
4. It appears to me that the applicant’s claim is that her husband had purchased land which now the 3rd plaintiff is claiming in this suit. Her claim against the defendants is the similar to that of the plaintiffs. However she has an additional claim against the third plaintiff which in my view can be ventilated concurrently with the claims against the defendants.
5. I therefore find it proper to enjoin the applicant to the suit so that her claim can be heard alongside the claims of the other plaintiffs.
6. I therefore grant the application dated 19/3/2018 and order that the applicant be enjoined as the 19th plaintiff and that the plaintiffs shall amend their plaint to reflect the change. Further the applicant shall when so enjoined serve the 3rd plaintiff formally with her notice of her claim against her setting out all the relevant particulars as required by law within 21 days of this order.
Dated, signed and delivered at Kitale on this 12th day of July, 2018.
MWANGI NJOROGE
JUDGE
12/7/2018
Coram:
Before - Mwangi Njoroge, Judge
Court Assistant - Picoty
Mr. Shikuku for the plaintiffs
Applicant Eveline Nanyama (present in person)
COURT
Ruling read in open court.
MWANGI NJOROGE
JUDGE
12/7/2018