[2021] KEELC 678 (KLR)
The court found that the central issue—whether the transfer of the suit land was fraudulent or constituted payment for legal fees—could only be determined at a full hearing where evidence would be adduced. Given the serious allegations of fraud and the need to preserve the subject matter of the dispute, the court...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEELC 678 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Naatarsim Ole Koisikir; Respondent: James Ochego Onduso; Respondent: Geoffrey Matonda Angwenyi; Respondent: Susan Siamanta Mwaniki; Respondent: Joseph Sarima Chacha; Respondent: Mary Wegesa Sarima; Respondent: The District Land Registrar Narok; Respondent: The Hon. Attorney General
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Narok
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 10 of 2020
- Procedural Posture
- Notice of Motion / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Stay of Proceedings
- Outcome
- Application allowed in part; stay of proceedings granted.
- Judges
- MN Kullow
- Legal Topics
- Fraudulent Transfer, Land Title Disputes, Injunctions, Stay of Proceedings
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Naatarsim Ole Koisikir
Applicant
James Ochego Onduso
Respondent
Geoffrey Matonda Angwenyi
Respondent
Susan Siamanta Mwaniki
Respondent
Joseph Sarima Chacha
Respondent
Mary Wegesa Sarima
Respondent
The District Land Registrar Narok
Respondent
The Hon. Attorney General
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Notice of Motion / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Stay of Proceedings
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the transfer of the suit land to the respondents was fraudulent or constituted payment of legal fees.
- 2 Whether a stay of proceedings in Narok CMCC ELC No. 30 of 2020 should be granted pending determination of the present suit.
- 3 Whether the applicant is entitled to preservation orders over the suit land.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the central issue—whether the transfer of the suit land was fraudulent or constituted payment for legal fees—could only be determined at a full hearing where evidence would be adduced. Given the serious allegations of fraud and the need to preserve the subject matter of the dispute, the court held that it was appropriate to grant a stay of proceedings in Narok CMCC ELC No. 30 of 2020 pending the hearing and determination of the present suit. The court emphasized that the applicant's claims of fraud required conclusive determination at trial and that interlocutory preservation was warranted to prevent prejudice to the applicant's interests in the suit land.
Court Disposition
Application allowed in part; stay of proceedings granted.
Orders
- There shall be a stay of proceedings in Narok CMCC ELC No. 30 of 2020 pending the hearing and determination of the instant suit.
- Costs of the application shall be in the cause.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
36 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT OF KENYA
AT NAROK
ELC CASE NO. 10 OF 2020
NAATARSIM OLE KOISIKIR............................................................PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT
VERSUS
JAMES OCHEGO ONDUSO................................................1ST DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
GEOFFREY MATONDA ANGWENYI................................2ND DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
SUSAN SIAMANTA MWANIKI)...........................................3RD DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
JOSEPH SARIMA CHACHA...............................................4TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
MARY WEGESA SARIMA...................................................5TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
THE DISTRICT LANDREGISTRAR NAROK...................6TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
THE HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL.....................................7TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
RULING
By a Notice of Motion dated 5/5/2020 the applicant sought for the following orders
1) Spent
2) Spend
3) Spend
4) Spend
5) An order for stay of proceeding in Narok CMCC ELC No. 30 of 2020 pending the final determination of the suit herein.
6) That the cost of the application be provided for.
The applications is based on the ground that the applicant is the legal and absolute owner of land parcel CIS-Mara/1/Mashariani Morijo/4077 which the applicant has been in possession but that sometimes in 2018 the 1st defendant respondent fraudulently and lawfully acquired a certificate of title for the suit parcel and late irregularly and illegally colluded with the 6th respondent registered and subdivided the same resulting in title number Cis-Mara/Mashariani Morijo/1516,5917,5918 and 5919 registered in the name of 2nd ,3rd ,4th and 5th respondents. It is the applicant’s contention that the said illegal transfer were orchestrated by his advocate who claimed owned the suit land as his legal fees.
The application was further supported by affidavit of the applicant in which he deponed that he had approached the 1st respondent sometimes in 2018 to act for him wherein he paid the sum of Kshs. 100,000/= and deposited one of his title as security for the balance of fee to enable him pay Ksh 200,000/=.
However, eight (8) months later he saw a stranger depositing building materials on the land and on inquiry he was informed that the land was purchased from 1st respondent who transferred the land to himself after he made him sign transfer documents that he was informed that were documents required for his cases. The applicant further counterclaim that the 1st respondent later caused to transfer the other parcels to unknown person being the 1st ,2nd ,3rd and 4th respondents.
The respondent jointly opposed the said application by way of a replying affidavit that was filed by the 1st respondent pursuant to an authority issued by his co- defendants. The 1st respondent denied having received the sum of Kshs. 100,000/= as claimed by the applicant and averred that the suit land was transferred to him as his fees since he was acting for the applicant in Narok CMCC No. 30/2018 and that the transfer documents were duly executed by one Scolastica Mogera an Advocate and later all mutation were signed and executed.
The respondent contended that the applicant was misleading the court with his assertion. That the subject land was fraudulently transferred to the respondents.
I have considered the application before me and the submission by counsel for the representation. This is an application in which the applicant is seeking a mandatory orders of injunction; from the pleadings that were filed the main issue for determination is whether the transfer that was executed by the applicant was fraudulent or was the land transferred to him as his legal fees? This is a matter that can only be determined at full hearing where evidence will be heard and the circumstances leading to the transfer can finally be determined. Moreover, the applicant allegation are based on fraud which must be conclusively determined.
Having stated the above, I find that there is need to preserve the suit land pending the hearing and determination of the suit herein and consequently I find that the Notice of motion dated 5/5/2020 is merited and as I have already granted orders 1,2,3 and 4 at the interlocutory stage. I direct that there be a stay of proceeding in Narok Elc case No. 30 of 2020 pending the hearing and determination of the instant suit.
The costs of this application shall be in the cause.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED Virtually at MIGORI this 30th day November 2021.
MOHAMED N. KULLOW
JUDGE
Ruling Delivered in the presence of ;-
Nonappearence for Plaintiff/Applicant
Nonappearence for Defendants
Tom Maurice.-Court Assistant