[2020] KEELC 3501 (KLR)
The court found that the applicants, as registered proprietors of the suit properties, had demonstrated sufficient grounds for the grant of orders to delineate and mark the boundaries of the parcels in question. The respondent, having been served, failed to appear or contest the application. The court accepted the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEELC 3501 (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
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Boundary Ascertainment and Enforcement
- Outcome
- Application allowed in part; orders for boundary delineation and marking granted.
- Judges
- FM Njoroge
- Legal Topics
- Land Boundaries, Contempt of Court, Injunctive Orders
- 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
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Boundary Ascertainment and Enforcement
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court should order the County Surveyor and District Land Registrar to delineate and mark the boundaries of LP NO. Mwimbi/Kiraro/1713 and Mwimbi/Kiraro/1714 pending determination of a contempt application.
- 2 Whether the respondent's alleged contempt of court justifies the grant of the orders sought.
- 3 Who should bear the costs of implementing the orders.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicants, as registered proprietors of the suit properties, had demonstrated sufficient grounds for the grant of orders to delineate and mark the boundaries of the parcels in question. The respondent, having been served, failed to appear or contest the application. The court accepted the applicants' evidence that the respondent had interfered with the boundaries in defiance of a subsisting court order, making it necessary to involve the County Surveyor and District Land Registrar to ascertain and mark the boundaries. The court exercised its discretion to grant the orders sought to preserve the subject matter and facilitate enforcement of its previous orders....
Court Disposition
Application allowed in part; orders for boundary delineation and marking granted.
Orders
- The Tharaka Nithi County Surveyor and/or District Land Registrar to visit and delineate and/or ascertain and mark the boundaries for LP NO. Mwimbi/Kiraro/1713 and Mwimbi/Kiraro/1714 under the supervision of O.C.S Chogoria pending the hearing and determination of the contempt application.
- This order to be served upon the O.C.S. Chogoria Police Station for compliance.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
42 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 31st December, 2019 and seeks orders:
1. That this application be certified urgent and service dispensed with in the first instant.
2. That the honourable court be pleased to order, direct and or authorize Tharaka Nithi County Surveyor and / or District Land Registrar to visit and delineate and / or ascertain and mark the boundaries for LP NO. Mwimbi/KIRARO/1713 and Mwimbi/Kiraro/1714 under the supervision of O.C.S Chogoria respectively pending the hearing and determination of the application for contempt of court pending in court.
3. That this order be served upon the O.C.S. Chogoria Police Station for compliance.
4. The costs of this application be provided for.
2. The application has the following grounds:
1. The respondent is in blatant contempt of court and liable for citing him for contempt of court.
2. The applicants are the sole registered owners and or proprietor of the LP NO. Mwimbi/Kiraro/1713 and Mwimbi/Kiraro/1714 respectively.
3. The application for contempt of court is pending in court and scheduled for hearing today.
4. There is due need to ascertain the boundaries of the two parcels of land in the interest of justice.
3. The application is supported by the affidavit of Francis Kinegeni which states:
I, FRANCIS KINEGENI of P. O. Box 418, Chuka do hereby make oath and state as follows:
1. That I am the 2nd defendant/applicant herein well versed with the facts of this case hence competent to swear this affidavit.
2. That I have the consent authority and / or permission of 1st applicant to swear this affidavit on my behalf and on behalf of the 1st applicant.
3. That am the registered owner and / or proprietor of suit land No. Mwimbi/Kiraro/1714 whereas the 1st defendant is the registered owner of the Mwimbi/Kiraro/1713 all of which are subject matter of this case (annexed here with and marked FK 1a & 1b are copies of title certificates).
4. That this case was finalized on 11th December, 2018 (annexed here with and marked FK2 is a copy of court decree dated 23rd January, 2019).
5. That an order for injunction against the respondent was issued restraining him from interfering with the suit land above mentioned (annexed here with and marked FK3 is a copy of order dated 24th April, 2019).
6. That in total defiance of the court order the respondent has tampered with the boundaries thereby making it next to impossible to identify the bacons and/or to execute the anticipated order for contempt of court.
7. That it is the therefore prudent and justified to order the district land registrar/surveyor for Tharaka Nithi County and/or any other qualified surveyor to visit the site and delineate, fix and ascertain the boundaries of the suit land thereof and furnish the court with the outcome.
8. That all the facts deposed to herein above are true to the best of my knowledge, belief and information.
4. Despite evidence of service, the respondent did not come to court when the application was heard.
5. In the circumstances, prayers 2 and 3 are hereby granted.
6. Costs concerning the implementation of the orders granted today shall firstly be borne by the applicant BUT will eventually 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