[2022] KEELC 1977 (KLR)
The court found that the reports previously filed by the Land Registrar and County Surveyor were inconclusive and did not provide a clear basis for determining the true boundary between the disputed parcels. Given the uncertainty and the possibility of boundary interference between 2003 and 2015, the court...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2022] KEELC 1977 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Mose Omenda; Defendant: Jane Matara; Defendant: Duke Mogaka; Defendant: William Ongaga; Defendant: Nyauncho Nyakundi; Defendant: Seventh Day Adventist Church (E.A) Union Ltd; Defendant: Hon. Attorney General
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Nyamira
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 10 of 2021
- Procedural Posture
- Land Dispute / Interlocutory Ruling on Boundary Determination and Site Visit
- Outcome
- Application allowed; fresh site visit and report ordered.
- Judges
- CM Kamau
- Legal Topics
- Boundary Disputes, Land Registration, Survey Reports, Encroachment, Court Mandated Site Visits
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Mose Omenda
Plaintiff
Jane Matara
Defendant
Duke Mogaka
Defendant
William Ongaga
Defendant
Nyauncho Nyakundi
Defendant
Seventh Day Adventist Church (E.A) Union Ltd
Defendant
Hon. Attorney General
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Land Dispute / Interlocutory Ruling on Boundary Determination and Site Visit
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the boundaries between L.R. NO. EAST KITUTU/BONYAMONDO 1/524 and L.R. NO. EAST KITUTU/BONYAMONDO 1/821 can be definitively established based on the available reports.
- 2 Whether either the plaintiff or the 5th defendant has encroached onto the other’s land and to what extent.
- 3 Whether a fresh site visit and report by the Land Registrar and County Surveyor is necessary for resolution.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the reports previously filed by the Land Registrar and County Surveyor were inconclusive and did not provide a clear basis for determining the true boundary between the disputed parcels. Given the uncertainty and the possibility of boundary interference between 2003 and 2015, the court determined that a fresh mandate should be given to the Land Registrar and County Surveyor to visit the suit premises, establish the true boundary, determine any encroachment, and file a comprehensive report. The court further ordered that both parties be allowed to attend the exercise, bring private surveyors if desired, and share the costs, with security provided by the OCS Sengera...
Court Disposition
Application allowed; fresh site visit and report ordered.
Orders
- The Land Registrar and County Surveyor, Nyamira, are to visit the suit premises and determine who between the plaintiff and the 5th defendant has encroached onto the other’s land and to what extent.
- They are to fix the boundaries between L.R. NO. EAST KITUTU/BONYAMONDO 1/524 and L.R. NO. EAST KITUTU/BONYAMONDO 1/821.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
31 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT
AT NYAMIRA
ELC NO.10 OF 2021
{Formerly at Environment and Land Court at Kisii Case No. 124 of 2009}
MOSE OMENDA.........................................................................................PLAINTIFF
=VRS=
JANE MATARA..................................................................................1ST DEFENDANT
DUKE MOGAKA...............................................................................2ND DEFENDANT
WILLIAM ONGAGA........................................................................3RD DEFENDANT
NYAUNCHO NYAKUNDI…............................................................4TH DEFENDANT
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH (E.A) UNION LTD.....5TH DEFENDANT
HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL........................................................6TH DEFENDANT
RULING:
Upon the evidence in chief of the Land Registrar being tendered on 25/01/2022 the Plaintiff’s Advocate Mr. Kipngetich asked the court that as had been agreed by the parties before the hearing of the case commenced, the Land Registrar should testify first if need be and go back to the suit land and determine the boundaries since the Reports of the Land Registrar and County Surveyor were inclusive and incapable of producing a clear picture on the matter on the ground. The Land Registrar Mr. Charles Mwendwa Mutua testified that the Environment and Court in Kisii did order his office to visit the locusin quo and establish the boundaries between the 2 parties. When they visited the suit lands they established that each of the parties had encroached onto the other’s land. The 2 officers i.e. the Land Registrar and the County Surveyor, Nyamira were unable to fix the boundary and they did refer the matter back to court and advised the parties to confine themselves to where they each occupied at the time of the visit. He also said that someone must have interfered with the boundary between 2003 when the first Report was made and 2015 when the second Report was made. He also said that the boundary was not fixed and that it would be helpful for the Surveyor to present his Report in Court and it would also assist him to come to court with the R.I.M. In view of the uncertanity in these Reports which the court would not be able to arrive at any determination. It is necessary for the Land Registrar and the County Surveyor, Nyamira to be given fresh mandate to visit the suit premises and carry out the following:
(a) Determine who between the Plaintiff and the 5th Defendant has encroached onto the other’s land and to what extent.
(b) Fix the boundaries between the parcel of land known as L.R. NO. EAST KITUTU/BONYAMONDO 1/524andL.R. NO. EAST KITUTU/BONYAMONDO 1/821.
(c) Prepare a Report of their findings and file the same in court within the next 45 days from the date hereof.
(d) The OCS Sengera Manga to provide security for the exercise.
(e) Parties are allowed to be present during the exercise but not to interfere with the exercise.
(f) Both parties are at liberty to come with their private Surveyors if need be.
(g) Both parties to share the costs of the exercise.
(h) Costs of this Application to be in the course.
(i) Next mention on 15/03/22.
RULING DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NYAMIRA THIS 27TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2022.
MUGO KAMAU
JUDGE
In the Presence of:-
Court Assistant: Sibota
Plaintiff: N/A
Defendants: Mr. Soire for 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants