[2020] KEELC 3500 (KLR)
The court found that the respondent, Njagi Kanampiu, was properly served with both the court order of injunction and the decree relating to the suit land parcels Mwimbi/Kiraro/1713 and 1714, as evidenced by affidavits of service. Despite this, the respondent failed to appear in court to contest the contempt...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEELC 3500 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Njagi Kanampiu; Defendant: Kellen Nchunguni Riungu; Defendant: Francis Kinegeni Chabari; Defendant: Elosy Kagendo Stephen; Defendant: Joseph Kathenya Kanampiu
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Chuka
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 265 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Contempt Application / Ruling on Contempt Application and Issuance of Show Cause Order
- Outcome
- Application allowed in terms of prayer 2; respondent to show cause for contempt.
- Judges
- FM Njoroge
- Legal Topics
- Contempt of Court, Injunctive Orders, Service of Process, Land Ownership Disputes
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Njagi Kanampiu
Plaintiff
Kellen Nchunguni Riungu
Defendant
Francis Kinegeni Chabari
Defendant
Elosy Kagendo Stephen
Defendant
Joseph Kathenya Kanampiu
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Contempt Application / Ruling on Contempt Application and Issuance of Show Cause Order
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the respondent, Njagi Kanampiu, is in contempt of the court's orders and decree relating to land parcels Mwimbi/Kiraro/1713 and 1714.
- 2 Whether service of the relevant court orders and decree was properly effected on the respondent.
- 3 Whether the respondent should be summoned to show cause why he should not be committed to jail for contempt of court.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the respondent, Njagi Kanampiu, was properly served with both the court order of injunction and the decree relating to the suit land parcels Mwimbi/Kiraro/1713 and 1714, as evidenced by affidavits of service. Despite this, the respondent failed to appear in court to contest the contempt application or provide any explanation for his conduct. The court concluded that there was a prima facie case of contempt and, accordingly, allowed the application to the extent of summoning the respondent to appear before the court and show cause why he should not be committed to jail for contempt of court. The court emphasized the importance of compliance with court orders and the...
Court Disposition
Application allowed in terms of prayer 2; respondent to show cause for contempt.
Orders
- The alleged contemnor Njagi Kanampiu is required to come to court on 4th March, 2020 to explain why he should not be committed to jail for contempt of court.
- The orders issued by the court should be properly served upon Njagi Kanampiu within the next 10 days.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
41 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT
AT CHUKA
CHUKA ELC CASE NO. 265 OF 2017
FORMERLY EMBU ELC. 79 OF 2014
FORMERLY KERUGOYA 294 OF 2013
NJAGI KANAMPIU..................................................................................PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
KELLEN NCHUNGUNI RIUNGU.................................................1ST DEFENDANT
FRANCIS KINEGENI CHABARI.................................................2ND DEFENDANT
ELOSY KAGENDO STEPHEN.....................................................3RD DEFENDANT
JOSEPH KATHENYA KANAMPIU..............................................4TH DEFENDANT
RULING
1. This application is dated 4th December, 2019 and seeks orders:
1. The application be certified urgent and heard expert dispensing with service in the first instant.
2. The honourable court do summon and/or direct the respondent herein to appear before it at appointed time and show cause why he should not be cited for contempt of court’s order dated 24th April, 2019 and the decree of this court issued on 23rd January, 2019.
3. The respondent herin a Mr. Njagi Kanampiu be committed and/or detained in jail at Meru G.K. Prison for a period not exceeding six (6) months for bleach (sic) of terms of this court order of injunction and / or for contempt of court.
4. The costs of this application be provided for.
2. The application has the following grounds:
1. The respondent has blatantly ignored and breached the lawful orders of injunction and the terms of the decree in this case.
2. The 1st and 2nd applicants are registered owners of the LP NO. Mwimbi/Kiraro/1713 and Mwimbi/Kiraro/1714 respectively.
3. The respondent is in real contempt of court and deserves appropriate punishment under the law of the land.
4. The respondent is illegally denying the applicants from enjoying the fruits of the judgment.
3. The application is supported by the affidavit of Kellen Nchuguni Riungu which states:
I, KELLEN NCHUGUNI RIUNGU of P. O. Box 418, Chuka do hereby make oath and state as follows:
1. That I am the 1st defendant/applicant herein well versed with the facts of this case hence competent to swear this affidavit.
2. That I am swearing this affidavit in support of contempt of court proceedings on my own behalf and on behalf of the 2nd applicant/defendant from whom I have permission, authority and or consent to do so.
3. That consequent upon the final determination of this case on 11th December, 2018. I applied for and was granted an order for permanent injunction against the respondent restraining him from interfering with suit land Nos. Mwimbi/Kiraro/1713 and 1714 respectively (annexed here with and marked KNI is a copy of court order dated 24th April, 2019.
4. That previously I had applied for and was issued with a court decree on 23rd January, 2019 which in essence informed the respondent against entering into and / or in whatsoever manner interfering with the suit land Nos. Mwimbi/Kiraro/1713 and 1714 respectively since he has no lien over them, of course his case having been dismissed by this honourable court (annexed here with and marked KNII is a copy of decree dated 23rd January, 2019).
5. That on 20th April, 2019, I instructed a court process server through my advocates on record to serve the aforementioned court order for injunction upon the respondent. I am reliably informed that service was properly effected (annexed here with and marked KNIII is a copy of affidavit of service dated 30th April, 2019).
6. That previously before such service referred in part above, on 7th March, 2019, I had engaged the same court process server to effect service of a court decree upon the respondent of which she did successfully (annexed here with and marked KNIV is a copy of affidavit of service dated 20th March, 2019).
7. Despite evidence of service the respondent did not come to court when the application was to be heard interpartes on 29. 1.2020. The applicants’ advocate asked the court to allow the application.
8. This application is allowed in terms of prayer 2 and the alleged contemnor NJAGI KANAMPIU is required to come to court on 4th March, 2020 to explain why he should not be committed to jail for contempt of court.
9. The orders issued by the court today should be properly served upon the said Njagi Kanampiu within the next 10 days.
10. Costs will be in the cause.
Delivered in open Court at Chuka this 25th day of February, 2020 in the presence of:
CA: Ndegwa
Majau for Applicants/Defendants
Njagi Kanampiu – Plaintiff
P.M. NJOROGE
JUDGE