[2014] KEHC 5898 (KLR)
The court found that the Yatta District Land Disputes Tribunal exceeded its statutory jurisdiction by making orders to revoke a title deed that was a first registration. Such jurisdiction is not conferred by the Land Disputes Tribunal Act, rendering the tribunal's decision null and void ab initio. The court held...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2014] KEHC 5898 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Republic of Kenya; Respondent: District Land Dispute Tribunal Yatta; Respondent: Chief Magistrate’s Court, Machakos; Respondent: District Land Surveyor, Machakos; Applicant: Muli Ndambuki; Interested Party: Mwelu Ndambuki
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Machakos
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Miscellaneous Application 224 of 2010
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Judgment
- Outcome
- Application partly allowed. Order of prohibition granted. Order of mandamus declined. Costs to the applicant against the interested party.
- Judges
- LN Mutende
- Legal Topics
- Judicial Review, Land Title Revocation, Tribunal Jurisdiction, Prohibition Order
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Republic of Kenya
Applicant
District Land Dispute Tribunal Yatta
Respondent
Chief Magistrate’s Court, Machakos
Respondent
District Land Surveyor, Machakos
Respondent
Muli Ndambuki
Applicant
Mwelu Ndambuki
Interested Party
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Yatta District Land Disputes Tribunal had jurisdiction to make orders affecting a first registration title deed.
- 2 Whether an order of prohibition should issue against the 3rd respondent from revoking the applicant's title deed.
- 3 Whether an order of mandamus restraining the 2nd respondent from adopting the tribunal's decision should be granted.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the Yatta District Land Disputes Tribunal exceeded its statutory jurisdiction by making orders to revoke a title deed that was a first registration. Such jurisdiction is not conferred by the Land Disputes Tribunal Act, rendering the tribunal's decision null and void ab initio. The court held that an order of prohibition was appropriate to prevent the 3rd respondent from revoking the applicant's title deed, as there was no evidence that the unlawful act had already been completed. However, the request for mandamus restraining the 2nd respondent from adopting the tribunal's decision was overtaken by events and thus not granted. The court also noted that certiorari would...
Court Disposition
Application partly allowed. Order of prohibition granted. Order of mandamus declined. Costs to the applicant against the interested party.
Orders
- An order of prohibition is issued against the 3rd respondent from revoking the title deed in respect of land parcel Number Machakos/Matuu/602.
- The prayer for mandamus restraining the 2nd respondent from adopting the tribunal's decision is declined as overtaken by events.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
38 paragraphs
NO. 239. 2014
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT MACHAKOS
CIVIL MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION NO. 224 OF 2010
REPUBLIC OF KENYA..................................................................APPLICANT
VERSUS
THE DISTRICT LAND DISPUTE TRIBUNAL YATTA...............1ST RESPONDENT
THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE’S COURT, MACHAKOS...............2ND RESPONDENT
DISTRICT LAND SURVEYOR, MACHAKOS..........................3RD RESPONDENT
AND
MULI NDAMBUKI.........................................................EXPARTE APPLICANT
VERSUS
MWELU NDAMBUKI........................................................INTERESTED PARTY
J U D G M E N T
1. Leave was granted to the ex parte applicant to apply for judicial review in the instant matter on the 27th October, 2010.
2. This was in regard to an amended Substantive Motion dated 27th May, 2011, the ex parte applicant seeks orders as follows:-
i. An order for prohibition as against the 3rd Respondent from reinstating the boundaries and revoking the title deed in respect of land parcel Number Machakos/Matuu/602 which was an implementation of the decision of Yatta sub-District Land Disputes Tribunal.
ii) An order of mandamus restraining the 2nd Respondent from adopting the decision of the Yatta District Land Tribunaldated29th March, 2005.
3. The application is premised on grounds that the ex parteapplicant is the registered proprietor of Land Parcel Number Machakos Matuu/602. On the 8th June 1994; the Yatta District Land Disputes Tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain any claim as against the ex parte applicant as his title was a first registration and the decision or order made against the ex parte applicants land is null and void ab initio.
4. The application was canvassed by way of written submissions. In his submissions the ex parte applicant stated that the Tribunal dealt with land which had a title. It did not have jurisdiction to deal with the same. Its decision is therefore null and void.
5. The interested party did not file a replying affidavit to the motion but filed submissions where it was argued that what was being challenged was reinstatement of the boundary and the adoption of the decision of Yatta District Land Tribunal. This gave the Land Disputes Tribunalpower to deal with the matter.
6. Section 3(1) of the Land Disputes Tribunal Act No. 18 of 1990 (now repealed) stipulated thus:-
“Subject to this Act, all cases of Civil nature involving dispute as to
a. the division of or the determination of boundaries to land, including land held in common ;
b. a claim to occupy or work land, or
c. trespass to land
d. Shall be heard and determined by a tribunal established under section 4”.
7. The Land Disputes Tribunal derived jurisdiction from statute which was specific as to what to adjudicate on. The 1st respondent determined the dispute and came up with a verdict reduced into its ruling dated 15th April, 2005. The order was adopted by the 2nd Respondent who per its decree ordered the 3rd respondent interalia to revoke the existing title deed. The existing title deed alluded to was title number Machakos/Matuu/602 issued to the ex parteapplicant on the 8th June, 1994.
8. The 1st respondent went beyond the limit of its authority by ruling that the title deed held by the ex parte applicant be revoked. The order made was null and void ab initio.
9. The order sought is for prohibition directed against the 3rd respondent from revoking the title deed. There was no response filed to the application. The order was made in 2009. I am aware of the fact that an order of prohibition would not quash a decision already made. It only contemplates prevention of an order contemplated (see Kenya National Examination Council versus Republic Exparte Geoffrey Gathenji Njoroge and Others Civil Appeal No. 266 of 1996 eKLR).Without any indication of action having been taken by the 2nd Respondent pursuant to the order of the 1st and 2nd respondent, I do issue the order sought.
10. With regard to the order of mandamus restraining the 2nd respondent from adopting the decision of the 1st respondent, it was overtaken by events. This court is seized of jurisdiction to grant the order sought but since it has been overtaken by events issuing such an order will be of no use. It will serve no purpose. (also see Republic versus Judicial Service Commission exparte Pareno [2004] I KLR 203-209).
11. It is important to point out that this was an ideal case for issuance of an order for certiorari to quash the decision of the 1st respondent which unfortunately the exparte applicant did not seek.
12. Prayer 1 having been granted costs of the application shall be borne by the interested party.
13. It is so ordered.
DATED, DELIVERED and SIGNEDthis 3RDday of APRIL2014.
L.N. MUTENDE
JUDGE