[2020] KEELC 3969 (KLR)

Ngetich v Nyamongo & 12 others (Environment & Land Case 145 of 2016) [2020] KEELC 3969 (KLR) (21 October 2020) (Ruling)

Jackson Kipruto Ngetich v James Nyamongo & 12 others [2021] eKLR

Neutral citation: [2020] KEELC 3969 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the Environment and Land Court at Eldoret

Environment & Land Case 145 of 2016

SM Kibunja, J

October 21, 2020

Between

Jackson Kipruto Ngetich

Plaintiff

and

James Nyamongo

1st Defendant

Ishmael Machiva

2nd Defendant

James Misoi

3rd Defendant

Julius Korir

4th Defendant

Simeon Mobegi

5th Defendant

Francis Omweri

6th Defendant

Omwoyo Fred

7th Defendant

Michael Kigen

8th Defendant

Francis Kipkoech Chepkonga

9th Defendant

Benjamin Oino

10th Defendant

Hellen Kerario

11th Defendant

Cledy Limo Chembei.

12th Defendant

Kitiabi Benson

13th Defendant

Ruling

[Notice Of Motion Dated 23Rd July, 2019] 1. The Plaintiff moved the Court through the Notice of Motion dated the July 23, 2019 seeking for leave to further amend the Plaint to add nine (9) parties as 2nd to 10th Plaintiffs, and two others as 14th and 15th Defendants. The application is based on the eight (8) grounds on its face and supported by the affidavits of the Plaintiff sworn on the July 22, 2019 and March 26, 2020. It is the Plaintiff’s case that nine of the parties he intends to enjoin as Plaintiffs are the registered owners of Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/4706 to 4714 and 6374 to 6374, which were subdivided from Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/93. That the other two intended Defendants are government offices and will help the Court determine the issues on the subdivision of the parent title. That enjoining the new parties will enable the Court to fully adjudicate the matter to finality.

2. The application is opposed by Francis C. Kipkech, the 9th Defendant on behalf of himself, 3rd, 8th and 12th Defendants, through the replying affidavit sworn on the September 12, 2019. It is their case that they bought the suit lands in 2005 and have since made permanent development on their respective parcels without any interruptions, until 2016 when the Plaintiff sued them. That the Plaintiff and those he sold land to had been sued in Eldoret ELC No. 218 of 2015 by Irene Gathoni Njenga but efforts to consolidate that suit and the current suit did not succeed. That the Defendants are bona fide purchasers even though they are yet to get individual titles for their portions.

3. That Alfred King’ona Nyairo, the 3rd Defendant in the counterclaim, also opposed the application through his replying affidavits sworn on the October 11, 2019 and March 23, 2020. It is his case that the application is incompetent, defective, bad in law and should be struck out with costs. That those sought to be enjoined have not sworn any affidavits supporting the application. That there is no evidence availed to show that the intended 2nd to 10th Plaintiffs have any interests in the subject matter of the suit and should therefore not be enjoined. The Plaintiff has not explained why he seeks the amendment of the Plaint to add parties more than two years after filing the suit. That the attached draft further Amended Plaint does not conform with Order 8 Rule 7 of the Civil Procedure Rules, 2010, as the same draft had been filed without leave, and expunged on the May 7, 2019 for it would have changed the character of the suit. That the amendment sought is likely to defeat his defence of limitation, hence prejudicing his case.

4. That the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th and 13th Defendants in the main suit and 2nd and 4th Defendants in the counterclaim opposed the application through the grounds of opposition dated the March 23, 2020 summarized as follows;(a)That the application is fatally defective, lacks merit and should be dismissed.(b)That the attached draft amended plaint contravenes Order 8 Rule 7 of the Civil Procedure Rules, 2010, and the amendments therein will completely change the character of the suit and defeat the defence already filed.(c)That the parties sought to be enjoined are not necessary for the effectual and conclusive determination of the issues herein.(d)That no explanation has been availed as to the delay in bringing the application.

5. The Court gave directions on the March 9, 2020 on filing and exchanging written submissions. That thereafter, M/s Angu Kitigin & Company Advocates for the Plaintiff and M/s R. M. Mutiso & Company Advocates for 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th and 13th Defendants in the main suit and 2nd and 4th Defendants in the counterclaim, filed their written submissions dated the March 27, 2020 and May 20, 2020 respectively.

6. The following are the issues for the Court’s determinations;(a)Whether the parties sought to be enjoined in the suit through amendment are necessary for the effectual and complete determination of the issues in the suit.(b)Whether the intended amendment will prejudice any of the parties in a way that cannot be compensated with costs.(c)Who pays the costs of the application?

7. The Court has carefully considered the grounds on the Motion, the affidavit evidence filed, the grounds of opposition, the written submissions, superior court’s decisions cited therein and come to the following findings;(a)That these proceedings were commenced by Jackson Kipruto Ngetich, the Plaintiff, against James Nyamongo, Ishmael Machiva, James Misoi, Julius Korir, Simeon Mobegi, Francis Omweri, Omwoyo Fred, Michael Kigen, Francis Kipkoech Chepkonga, Benjamin Oino, Hellen Kerario, Cledy Limo Chembei and Kitiabi Benson, the 1st to 13th Defendants respectively, through the Plaint dated May 25, 2016, seeking for their eviction and that of their agents from Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/93, permanent injunction and costs. The Defendants filed their statements of defence including the 3rd, 8th, 9th and 12th Defendants, whose defence dated July 5, 2016 has a counterclaim against Jackson Kipruto Ngetich, Alfred Momanyi Nyairo, Alfred King’oina Nyairo (T/a Nyairo & Company Advocates), Lilian C. Lagat alias Lilian Jepkoech Lagat. They seek among others for declaration that the Defendants in the counterclaim sold to them portions of Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/93 and costs.(b)That an Amended Plaint dated March 1, 2018 was filed on the March 6, 2018 among others introducing paragraphs 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 8B, 8C between paragraphs 7 and 8. That a further Amended Plaint was filed on the November 19, 2018, but expunged on the May 7, 2019, and Plaintiff directed to make a formal application. That subsequently, the motion subject matter of this ruling was filed.(c)That from the foregoing, the Amended Plaint filed on the 6th March, 2018 and dated the 1st March, 2018 has not been challenged. That indeed, the 10th Defendant, 3rd, 8th, 9th and 12th Defendants filed their amended defence statements dated March 8, 2018 and April 10, 2018 respectively. That other than the introduction of the 2nd to 9th Plaintiffs and 14th and 15th Defendants, the other main change sought to be introduced through the proposed amendment is the addition of “subsequently subdivided into land parcel numbers 4706 to 4714 and 6373 and 6374” after “Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/93”. That the prayers sought have remained the same and as the Defendants will have the opportunity to file and serve their amended statements of defence if the application is allowed, the Court finds no party stands to be prejudiced in a way that cannot be taken care of through an award of costs.(d)That it is apparent that the Plaintiff/Applicant was aware about the subdivisions of Uasin Gishu/Kimumu/93 into the various parcels and the existence of the 2nd to 10th Plaintiffs as far back as March 1, 2018 when he had drawn the Amended Plaint filed on the March 6, 2018. That it is however, unclear why he did not enjoin the said Plaintiffs at that stage. That accordingly, the Court is of the view that the Plaintiff should meet the costs of the application notwithstanding being successful.

8. That flowing from the foregoing, the Court finds merit in the motion dated the July 23, 2019 and is allowed in the following terms;(a)That the Plaintiff [Jackson Kipruto Ngetich] is hereby granted leave to further amend the Amended Plaint to enjoin the proposed nine (9) Plaintiffs and two (2) Defendants.(b)That the Further Amended Plaint be filed and served in twenty-one (21) days.(c)That the Plaintiff to pay the Defendants who participated in the application costs of the same.Orders accordingly.

DELIVERED VIRTUALLY AND DATED AT ELDORET THIS 21ST DAY OF OCTOBER, 2020. S. M. KIBUNJAJUDGE