[2017] KEELC 2027 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant had failed to make full disclosure of material facts, particularly the agreement reached before the OCS Chuka regarding removal of property and transfer timelines. The applicant's credibility was undermined by evasiveness and unsubstantiated allegations. The court held that the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2017] KEELC 2027 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Njeru Mugera; Respondent: Jemimah Nkirote Njagi
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Chuka
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment and Land Appeal 128 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Appeal / Ruling on Post Judgment Application
- Outcome
- Application dismissed in part; operative orders issued to enforce transfer and possession.
- Judges
- FM Njoroge
- Legal Topics
- Land Subdivision, Title Deed Production, Court Orders Enforcement, Transfer of Land, Costs of Transfer
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Njeru Mugera
Appellant
Jemimah Nkirote Njagi
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Ruling on Post Judgment Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court should empower the land registrar and surveyor to dispense with the need for the original title deed in implementing the subdivision order.
- 2 Whether the appellant/respondent's refusal to surrender the original title deed justifies granting the orders sought by the applicant.
- 3 Whether the applicant's conduct and disclosure affected the credibility and merits of her application.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant had failed to make full disclosure of material facts, particularly the agreement reached before the OCS Chuka regarding removal of property and transfer timelines. The applicant's credibility was undermined by evasiveness and unsubstantiated allegations. The court held that the application to empower the land registrar and surveyor to dispense with the original title deed was not justified in the circumstances, as the appellant had undertaken through counsel to transfer the land within 60 days and remove his property. The court emphasized that further frivolous applications would not be entertained and ordered the applicant to bear transfer costs. The...
Court Disposition
Application dismissed in part; operative orders issued to enforce transfer and possession.
Orders
- The appellant/respondent to transfer land to the applicant as per court orders within 60 days.
- The appellant/respondent to remove his property including crops from the portion now belonging to the applicant.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
35 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT CHUKA
CHUKA ELC [CA] CASE NO 128 OF 2017
FORMERLY MERU ELC [CA] CASE NO. 22 OF 2013
NJERU MUGERA…………......................….....… APPELLANT
VERSUS
JEMIMAH NKIROTE NJAGI….………..............RESPONDENT
RULING
1. This application by the respondent/applicant is dated 6th July, 2017 and seeks orders:
1. THAT the application be certified extremely urgent and it be heard ex-parte on priority basis.
2. THAT the District (county) land registrar, Chuka and the District (county) surveyor, Chuka, be empowered and authorized to dispense with the necessity of production of the original title deed over L.R. MAGUMONI/MUKUUNI/313, in implementing the order issued herein on 17. 05. 2016.
3. THAT costs of the application be provided for.
2. The application is supported by the affidavit of JEMIMAH NKIROTE NJAGI and has the following grounds:
(i) THAT earlier it was ordered that the suit land be sub-divided and shared equally between the parties.
(ii) THAT in June, 2017, the suit land was surveyed and sub-divided into two equal portions under armed security, as ordered by the court on 12. 5.2016.
(iii) THAT the appellant/respondent has declined to surrender the original title deed so that the court order can be implemented fully.
(iv) THAT the appellant/respondent is aggressively depleting all the trees on the suit land using 4 power-saws so that when I will possess my share, it shall be bare.
(v) THAT the final decision in this appeal and the subsequent orders have never been challenged.
3. During hearing on 25. 7.2017, the applicant Jemimah Nkirote Njagi told the court that she wanted her application allowed because he appellant, Njeru Njagi had refused to obey court orders.
4. The Appellant/Respondents’ advocate told the court that the parties had before the OCS Chuka on 26. 6.2017 agreed that the appellant/respondent would be given 90 days to remove his property from the side that was surveyed to belong to the applicant. He also said that the appellant/respondent was willing to transfer the suit land to the applicant within 60 days. He termed the applicant a liar.
5. The applicant was evasive. She told the court that the appellant/respondent had sent people to kill her and to harass her. She even attempted to deny what she owned upto later. I find that she is not an honest person and that she is predisposed to creating stories. She was unable to substantiate any of her claims. I note that in her pleadings she had hidden material facts from the court, including the session the parties had at the office of the OCS Chuka on 26. 6.2007.
6. In the circumstances her application, and specifically her prayer 2, is dismissed.
7. It is so ordered as follows:
1. Mr. Njeru Mugera, the appellant/respondent as undertaken by his advocate, Mr. Kirimi, to transfer land to the applicant, JEMIMAH NKIROTE NJAGI, as per court orders within 60 days of today.
2. Mr. NJERU MUGERA, the appellant/respondent, as he and his advocate have undertaken, to remove his property including crops from the portion of the suit land which now belongs to the applicant.
3. Any further frivolous applications from the applicant will not be entertained.
4. The applicant, JEMIMAH NKIROTE NJAGI, to meet transfer fees and attendant costs.
5. Parties are ordered to come to court on 27. 9.2017 to make a progress report.
8. It is so ordered.
Delivered in open court at Chuka this 25th day of July, 2017 in the presence of:
CA: Ndegwa
Kirimi for Appellant/Respondent
Jemimah Nkirote Njagi - Applicant
P. M. NJOROGE
JUDGE