[2007] KEHC 1197 (KLR)
The court found that the plaintiff had not established a prima facie case to warrant the grant of an injunction. The issues raised in the current suit had already been determined in a previous case (Hccc633/97), and the plaintiff failed to disclose that he was not the administrator of the estate of the deceased. The...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2007] KEHC 1197 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Njenga Chogera; Defendant: Maria Wanjira Kimani
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 13 of 2007
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction Application
- Outcome
- Application for injunction dismissed; main suit struck out as frivolous.
- Legal Topics
- Injunctions, Res Judicata, Beneficiary Shares, Administration of Estates
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Njenga Chogera
Plaintiff
Maria Wanjira Kimani
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Ruling on Interlocutory Injunction Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the plaintiff is entitled to an injunction restraining the defendant from dealing with the suit properties.
- 2 Whether the suit is res judicata, having been previously determined in Hccc633/97.
- 3 Whether the plaintiff has established a prima facie case for the grant of an injunction.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the plaintiff had not established a prima facie case to warrant the grant of an injunction. The issues raised in the current suit had already been determined in a previous case (Hccc633/97), and the plaintiff failed to disclose that he was not the administrator of the estate of the deceased. The court held that the application was frivolous and an abuse of the court process, as the matter was res judicata. Consequently, the application for an injunction was dismissed with costs and damages to be paid by the plaintiff to the defendant, and the main suit was struck out for lack of merit.
Court Disposition
Application for injunction dismissed; main suit struck out as frivolous.
Orders
- The application for injunction is dismissed with costs to the defendant.
- The plaintiff shall pay damages to the defendant for this application together with costs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
41 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI (NAIROBI LAW COURTS)
Civil Case 13 of 2007
1. Land and Environmental Law Division
2. Subject of main suit – land
LR Limuru/Bibirion/T573
LR Limuru/Bibirioni/148
3. Application by plaintiff 11 July 2007
a) That injunction do issue restraining the defendant form selling disposing or alienating and or transferring property LR Limuru Bibirioni/T533 and 148.
b) That defendant be ordered to declare respective shares of beneficiaries.
4. The defendant respondent opposed applicant
a) The suit had been heard in Hcc633/97 and finalize in April 2002
b) That the plaintiff never is in effect an administrator of the state of Chongera Kimani (now deceased)
c) The defendant is complying with the court orders.
5. Held
a) No prima facie case to show matter requires an injunction.
b) The application be dismissed
c) That the plaintiff do pay damages to the defendant herein for this application together with cost.
d) That the suit herein be struck out as being frivolous.
6. Advocate:
C. Wainaina for Kinyua Mwaniki & Wainaina Advocates for the plaintiff/applicant
B.N. Kimani for Ndumu Kimani & Co. Advocates for the defendant/respondent
NJENGA CHOGERA …………………………………………………..PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
MARIA WANJIRA KIMANI ………………………….....…………....DEFENDANT
RULING
I: Background of application for an injunction
1. The defendant herein Maria Wanjira Kimani is a dowagger aged 94 years old. She had been involved in a family court case in Hccc633/97 concerning land. The said parcel of land being Limuru Bibirioni/148 and Limuru Bibirioni T573 were registered in the name of Chongera Kimani her late son.
2. The matter went to the court of appeal which ruled in her favour that she in effect was the rightful proprietor of the land.
3. The plaintiff herein filed this civil suit seeking the same prayer as had earlier been determined by the court in the earlier suit. The said plaintiff did not disclose that he was the administrator of his fathers estate.
II Application of 16 July 2007
4. The plaintiff herein sought injunctive orders to restrain the said defendant from selling, alienating, disposing or in any manner sub-dividing the two particles of land These orders are granted exparte by Visram J on 11 July 2007. The plaintiff gave an undertaking in damages.
5. In reply the respondent defendant stated that this matter in effect had been determined. The order sought contained in the original judgment file.
III: Finding
6. I find that there is no prima facie case to show that an injunction be given.
7. I dismiss this application for an injunction with costs to the plaintiff and damages that is to be paid by the defendant to the plaintiff.
8. I hereby struck out the main suit as being of no merits with costs to defendant.
Dated this 31st day of July 2007 at Nairobi.
M.A. ANG’AWA
JUDGE
C. Wainaina for Kinyua Mwaniki & Wainaina Advocates for the plaintiff/applicant
B.N. Kimani for Ndumu Kimani & Co. Advocates for the defendant/respondent