[2018] KEHC 8806 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff had proved his case on a balance of probabilities. The defendant proceeded to subdivide land parcel Bokoli/Bokoli/1970 into several new parcels despite a High Court order quashing the tribunal's decision that had authorized such subdivision. The court held that the subdivisions and...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 8806 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Moses Wenani Zakaria; Defendant: Metrine Nekesa Matumbai
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Bungoma
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 83 of 2015
- Procedural Posture
- Land and Environment Case / Judgment
- Outcome
- Plaintiff's claim allowed as prayed.
- Legal Topics
- Title Cancellation, Land Subdivision, Declaratory Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Moses Wenani Zakaria
Plaintiff
Metrine Nekesa Matumbai
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Land and Environment Case / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the subdivision of land parcel Bokoli/Bokoli/1970 by the defendant was lawful.
- 2 Whether the subsequent titles Bokoli/Bokoli/2348, 2349, 2412, 2413, 2414, and 2415 should be cancelled and the land revert to the plaintiff.
- 3 Whether the orders of the High Court quashing the tribunal's decision were binding on the defendant.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiff had proved his case on a balance of probabilities. The defendant proceeded to subdivide land parcel Bokoli/Bokoli/1970 into several new parcels despite a High Court order quashing the tribunal's decision that had authorized such subdivision. The court held that the subdivisions and resultant titles were null and void as they were done in contravention of a binding court order. The court therefore allowed the plaintiff's claim as prayed, ordering cancellation of the new titles and reversion of the land to its original status in the plaintiff's name.
Court Disposition
Plaintiff's claim allowed as prayed.
Orders
- The subdivisions of Bokoli/Bokoli/1970 into Bokoli/Bokoli/2348, 2349, 2412, 2413, 2414, and 2415 by the defendant are declared null and void.
- The resultant titles Bokoli/Bokoli/2348, 2349, 2412, 2413, 2414, and 2415 are to be cancelled.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUNGOMA.
ELC CASE NO. 83 OF 2015.
MOSES WENANI ZAKARIA.............................PLAINTIFF
VERSUS.
METRINE NEKESA MATUMBAI...................DEFENDANT
JUDGMENT
[1]. The plaintiff in this case filed this case and applied for an order of cancellation of title and a declaratory orders that the subsequent division of land Parcel Bokoli/Bokoli 1970 and the creation of Bokoli/Bokoli 2348, 2349 2412 2413 2414 and 2415 by the defendant be declared null and void and that those Subdivisions be cancelled and that the land do revert back to Bokoli/Bokoli/1970 in the names of the plaintiff.
[2]. The defendant was duly served with the summons to enter appearance and plaint but he refused to enter appearance and/or file any defence. The Plaintiff requested for Judgment on 29th September, 2015 and an interlocutory Judgment was entered on 1/10/2015.
The case was fixed for formal proof for 15th May, 2017. On that date, the plaintiff duly proved his case. He told the court how on 8th February, 2005 the defendants herein vide Webuye Resident Magistrates Court a decision of land disputes tribunal was adopted as an order of the court to the effect that land Bokoli/Bokoli/1970 be subdivided.
[3]. The witness explained how he went to Bungoma High Court vide a Miscellaneous Application No. 165 of 2005 and those orders were quashed. That despite the quashing of those orders by the High Court the defendant went ahead and subdivided Bokoli/Bokoli/1970 into 2348, 2349, 2412, 2413, 2414 and 2415.
The plaintiff averred that those subdivisions were null and void. The plaintiff produced his Original title Bokoli/Bokoli/1970 dated 10/7/2003. High Court Succession Cause No. 58 of 2000, the order dated 24/6/2005 quashing the tribunals order and the Judgment of this ELC Court dated 16/7/2014 and the Search Certificates of the resultant Subdivisions.
Having perused all those documents, I am satisfied that Plaintiff has formerly proved his case. I allow his claim in the plaint as prayed.
Datedat Bungoma this 10thday of January, 2018.
Judgment read in Open Court in the presence of Mr. Were.
S. MUKUNYA
JUDGE.
In the presence of:
Chemutai - Court Assistant
Were for Mr. Kituyi for the Plaintiff
Defendant In person - Absent