[2025] KEELC 2972 (KLR)
The court held that the application by the plaintiff to amend the plaint and enjoin a third party was misconceived and without legal basis. Under Order 1 Rule 15(1) of the Civil Procedure Rules 2010, only a defendant has the power to enjoin a third party to a suit, typically for purposes of contribution or...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2025] KEELC 2972 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Simon Muigai Mwangi; Defendant: Solomon Muriithi Kibugu; Defendant: James Kibugu Kioni; Respondent: Abdinasir Haji T/A Topline Traders Ltd
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Nakuru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 303 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Amend Plaint and Enjoin Third Party
- Outcome
- application dismissed with costs
- Judges
- A Ombwayo
- Legal Topics
- Joinder of Parties, Third Party Procedure, Amendment of Pleadings, Injunctive Relief
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Simon Muigai Mwangi
Plaintiff
Solomon Muriithi Kibugu
Defendant
James Kibugu Kioni
Defendant
Abdinasir Haji T/A Topline Traders Ltd
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Application to Amend Plaint and Enjoin Third Party
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff has legal capacity to enjoin a third party to the suit under Order 1 Rule 15(1) of the Civil Procedure Rules.
- 2 Whether the application to amend the plaint to enjoin a third party is properly before the court.
- 3 Whether injunctive relief can be granted against the proposed third party and defendants pending determination of the suit.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the application by the plaintiff to amend the plaint and enjoin a third party was misconceived and without legal basis. Under Order 1 Rule 15(1) of the Civil Procedure Rules 2010, only a defendant has the power to enjoin a third party to a suit, typically for purposes of contribution or indemnity. The plaintiff's attempt to enjoin Abdinasir Haji T/A Topline Traders Ltd as a third party was therefore procedurally improper. The court found that the plaintiff lacked the requisite legal capacity to bring such an application, and as such, the application was dismissed with costs to the defendants and the proposed third party.
Court Disposition
application dismissed with costs
Orders
- The plaintiff's application to amend the plaint and enjoin Abdinasir Haji T/A Topline Traders Ltd as a third party is dismissed.
- Costs of the application are awarded to the defendants and the proposed third party.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
Mwangi v Kibugu & another (Environment & Land Case 303 of 2018) [2025] KEELC 2972 (KLR) (28 March 2025) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2025] KEELC 2972 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Environment and Land Court at Nakuru
Environment & Land Case 303 of 2018
A Ombwayo, J
March 28, 2025
Between
Simon Muigai Mwangi
Plaintiff
and
Solomon Muriithi Kibugu
1st Defendant
James Kibugu Kioni
2nd Defendant
Ruling
1. The plaintiff vide a Notice of Motion dated 13th November 2024 filed an application seeking for order that the plaintiff be allowed to amend plaint to enjoin Abdinasir Haji T/A Topline Traders Ltd as a third party.
2. That upon Abdinasir Haji T/A Topllne Traders Limited being enjoined as Third Party in this suit, the said Third Party is be restrained either by himself, servants or agents from accessing, using or interfering in whichever manner or form with the suit property known as: Nakuru/Municipality/Block 8/6 pending the hearing and determination of this application. The Defendants jointly and severally be restrained either by themselves, servants or agents from dealing with the suit property known as: Nakuru/Municipality/Block 8/6 in a manner that may alienate the suit property or in a manner that may interfere with the plaintiff's full enjoyment of the suit property pending the hearing and determination of the suit. Costs be provided for by the defendants and the interested party. The application is based on grounds that the Plaintiff/ Applicant purchased half acre of the suit property known as: Nakuru/Municipality/Block 8/6 from the Defendants jointly and severally and met all the necessary statutory requirements and payments including approval from NEMA as required by the law and afterwards the Plaintiff invested heavily on the said suit premises.
3. Soon the Defendants began to interfere with the Plaintiff's business and went ahead to block the Plaintiff/ Applicant from accessing the property and the said Defendants have now introduced the Third Party into the suit property which has deteriorated the situation and requires the court's intervention.
4. The application is opposed by the proposed third party on grounds that that the proposed 3rd party relies on order 1 rule 15 (1) of the Civil Procedure Rules 2010 that states that it is only the defendant who can enjoin a 3rd party in the suit and not the plaintiff. The defendant must claim contribution or indemnity from the 3rd party. The claim against the 3rd party must be a relief sought by the plaintiff against the defendant. This Court finds the application herein misconceived as the plaintiff has no power to enjoin a 3rd party. It is only the defendant who can enjoin a 3rd party. The application is dismissed with costs.
THE JUDICIARY OF KENYADoc IDENTITY: 393709195206581552719594050 TrackingNumber:OOAW4Z2025SIGNED BY: HON. JUSTICE ANTONY O. OMBWAYOTHE JUDICIARY OF KENYA.NAKURU ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURTENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURTDATE: 2025-03-28 12:03:59