[2019] KEELC 4087 (KLR)

[2019] KEELC 4087 (KLR)

The Environment and Land Court determined that the central issue—who is the rightful legal representative of the estate of Njoroge Gikima and thus entitled to the suit property—falls within the jurisdiction of the Kiambu High Court in a pending succession cause. Section 6 of the Civil Procedure Act mandates a stay...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2019] KEELC 4087 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Mary Waithera Gikima; Plaintiff: Kenneth Njoroge Gikima; Defendant: Kariuki Wairagu; Defendant: Gachuhi Kamenya; Defendant: Michael Warui Gikima; Defendant: Legorn Feeds International Ltd
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Thika
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Environment & Land Case 661 of 2017
Procedural Posture
Environment and Land Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Applications (stay, Preservation Orders, Arbitration Referral)
Outcome
Partial grant and partial dismissal of applications; suit stayed pending determination of succession cause; preservation orders granted.
Judges
LN Gacheru
Legal Topics
Succession Disputes, Arbitration Clauses, Ownership Transfer, Preservation Orders, Jurisdictional Conflict, Fraudulent Conveyance
Source Language
en
Land and Property Civil Procedure Family and Children Succession Disputes Arbitration Clauses Ownership Transfer Preservation Orders Jurisdictional Conflict +1 more

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Parties

Mary Waithera Gikima

Plaintiff

Kenneth Njoroge Gikima

Plaintiff

Kariuki Wairagu

Defendant

Gachuhi Kamenya

Defendant

Michael Warui Gikima

Defendant

Legorn Feeds International Ltd

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Environment and Land Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Applications (stay, Preservation Orders, Arbitration Referral)

  1. 1 Whether the Environment and Land Court has jurisdiction to determine the dispute over the estate of Njoroge Gikima and the suit property pending determination in the Kiambu High Court Succession Cause.
  2. 2 Whether the sale of the suit property to the 4th Defendant was valid given the existence of a prior judgment and contested grant of letters of administration.
  3. 3 Whether the dispute between the 1st-3rd Defendants and the 4th Defendant should be referred to arbitration under the sale agreement.

Ratio Decidendi

The Environment and Land Court determined that the central issue—who is the rightful legal representative of the estate of Njoroge Gikima and thus entitled to the suit property—falls within the jurisdiction of the Kiambu High Court in a pending succession cause. Section 6 of the Civil Procedure Act mandates a stay of proceedings where the same matter is directly and substantially in issue in a previously instituted suit between the same parties in a competent court. Accordingly, the court stayed the present suit pending determination of the succession cause. The court rejected the 1st-3rd Defendants' application to refer the dispute to arbitration, holding that their right to arbitration...

Court Disposition

Partial grant and partial dismissal of applications; suit stayed pending determination of succession cause; preservation orders granted.

Orders

  • Suit stayed pending determination of Kiambu High Court Succession Cause No. HCCA 58 of 2018.
  • 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants to deposit the monies received as consideration in an interest-earning account in the joint names of their advocates and the 4th Defendant's advocate within 45 days.