[2018] KEELC 3148 (KLR)
The court held that the orders sought by the Plaintiffs/Applicants in the interlocutory application were final in nature and mirrored the substantive reliefs sought in the main suit. Granting such orders at the interlocutory stage would effectively determine the suit without a full hearing, which is contrary to...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEELC 3148 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Phillis Wangui Kitavi; Plaintiff: Simon Kibaki Kangethe; Defendant: Stephen Parasho Kaito
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Nairobi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 1237 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Notice of Motion / Interlocutory Application for Eviction Order Pending Hearing and Determination of Suit
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Eviction Orders, Interlocutory Applications, Title Deeds, Possession Disputes
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Phillis Wangui Kitavi
Plaintiff
Simon Kibaki Kangethe
Plaintiff
Stephen Parasho Kaito
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Notice of Motion / Interlocutory Application for Eviction Order Pending Hearing and Determination of Suit
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether an eviction order can be granted at the interlocutory stage pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
- 2 Whether the orders sought in the application are final in nature and preempt the main trial.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that the orders sought by the Plaintiffs/Applicants in the interlocutory application were final in nature and mirrored the substantive reliefs sought in the main suit. Granting such orders at the interlocutory stage would effectively determine the suit without a full hearing, which is contrary to established principles of civil procedure. The proper course for the Plaintiffs was to set the suit down for hearing rather than seek final orders through an interlocutory application. Consequently, the application was dismissed to preserve the integrity of the trial process and ensure that the Defendant is afforded an opportunity to be heard on the merits of the case.
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The Notice of Motion dated and filed on 3rd December 2015 is dismissed.
- Costs shall be in the cause.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT
AT NAIROBI
MILIMANI LAW COURTS
ELC. CASE NO. 1237 OF 2015
PHILLIS WANGUI KITAVI.......................................1ST PLAINTIFF
SIMON KIBAKI KANGETHE.................................2ND PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
STEPHEN PARASHO KAITO.............................1ST DEFENDANT
RULING
Coming up before me for determination is the Notice of Motion dated and filed on 3rd December 2015 in which the Plaintiffs/Applicants seek for an eviction order against the Defendant from the parcel of land known as Kajiado/Kitengela/74727 (hereinafter referred to as the “suit property”) pending the hearing and determination of this suit. The Plaintiffs/Applicants also sought that the said eviction order be executed and supervised by the OCS Kitengela Police Station.
The Application is premised on the grounds appearing on its face together with the Supporting Affidavit of the 1st Plaintiff/Applicant, Phyllis Wangui Kitavi, sworn on 3rd December 2015 in which she averred that she and her husband purchased the suit property, which is 5 ha in size, from the Defendant. She further averred that the Defendant has refused to vacate 1 ha out of the 5 ha and has neglected to comply with the notice to vacate served upon him by the Plaintiffs. It is on those grounds that she sought for an eviction order. As proof of their ownership of the suit property, she annexed a copy of a title deed issued on 24th October 2014, which indicated the size of the suit property as being 1. 5 ha and not 5 ha as alleged.
The Application is uncontested. Despite being duly served, the Defendant did not respond.
The issue that I am called upon to determine is whether or not to issue an eviction order directed at the Defendant compelling him to vacate the suit property. This suit was filed on 3rd December 2015 by the Plaintiffs by way of a Plaint in which they sought for judgment to be entered against the Defendant for:
a. An eviction order for the Defendant to vacate the suit property;
b. The Defendant be ordered to vacate the said parcel of land immediately;
c. The OCS Kitengela Police Station do assist in executing the said eviction order; and,
d. Costs of this suit.
As is clear, the Plaintiffs have sought in this Application the very same prayers sought in the Plaint. It is also clear that the orders sought in this Application are also final in nature. The main point is that the prayers that the Plaintiff/Applicant seeks in this Application are not prayers that can be granted in an interlocutory application such as this one. They are final in nature and would preempt the main trial of the suit. They cannot be granted at this interlocutory stage. Instead of filing this Application and pursuing it all this time, the Plaintiff should have simply set this suit down for hearing. For now, this Application is hereby dismissed. Costs shall be in the cause.
DATED AND SIGNED BY LADY JUSTICE MARY GITUMBI AT NAIROBI THIS 12TH DAY OF APRIL 2018
MARY M. GITUMBI
JUDGE
DELIVERED BY JUSTICE SAMSON OKONG’O AT NAIROBI THIS 19TH DAY OF APRIL 2018
SAMSON O. OKONG’O
PRESIDING JUDGE