[2023] KEELC 169 (KLR)
The court held that service of the application and submissions upon the respondent, Land Registrar Rachuonyo East, South and North Sub-Counties, had not been effected by the applicant's counsel. The court emphasized that the respondent must be made aware of the application and be given an opportunity to respond, in...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEELC 169 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Republic; Respondent: Land Registrar Rachuonyo East, South & North Sub-Counties; Applicant: Otieno Kennedy Tindi; Applicant: Joseph Aroka Nyandega
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Homa Bay
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Miscellaneous Case 6 of 2021
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Service and Joinder Application
- Outcome
- Application deferred for service and compliance; no substantive orders on joinder or setting aside issued at this stage.
- Judges
- GMA Ongondo
- Legal Topics
- Joinder of Parties, Service of Process, Judicial Review Procedure, Setting Aside Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Republic
Applicant
Land Registrar Rachuonyo East, South & North Sub-Counties
Respondent
Otieno Kennedy Tindi
Applicant
Joseph Aroka Nyandega
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Service and Joinder Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant has properly served the respondent with the application and submissions as required by law.
- 2 Whether the respondent's right to be heard and access to justice has been upheld in the proceedings.
- 3 Whether the application for joinder and setting aside of judgment can proceed without service on the respondent.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that service of the application and submissions upon the respondent, Land Registrar Rachuonyo East, South and North Sub-Counties, had not been effected by the applicant's counsel. The court emphasized that the respondent must be made aware of the application and be given an opportunity to respond, in line with the constitutional right to access justice and the right to be heard. The court cited relevant constitutional provisions and case law underscoring the necessity of fair hearing and due process. Consequently, the court ordered that the applicant's counsel serve the respondent within seven days, with the respondent to file any response and submissions within ten days...
Court Disposition
Application deferred for service and compliance; no substantive orders on joinder or setting aside issued at this stage.
Orders
- Applicant's counsel to serve the respondent with the application and submissions within seven days from the date of the ruling.
- Respondent to file and serve any response and submissions within ten days from the date of service.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
30 paragraphs
Republic v Land Registrar Rachuonyo East, South & North Sub-Counties; Tindi (Exparte) (Environment & Land Miscellaneous Case 6 of 2021) [2023] KEELC 169 (KLR) (25 January 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEELC 169 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the Environment and Land Court at Homa Bay
Environment & Land Miscellaneous Case 6 of 2021
GMA Ongondo, J
January 25, 2023
(FORMERLY MIGORI ELC MISC NO. E004 OF 2021) IN THE MATTER OF ORDER 53 RULE 1 & 3 OF CIVIL PROCEDURE ACT AND IN THE MATTER OF THE LAND REGISTRATION ACT, NO 3 OF 2012 AND IN THE MATTER OF ARTICLES 2, 10, 19,40,47,48 AND 50 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA 2010 AND IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 24, 26 AND 79 OF THE LAND REGISTRATION ACT 2012 AND IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 8 & 9 OF THE LAW REFORM ACT CAP 26 LAWS OF KENYA AND IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 7 &8 OF THE FAIR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS ACT 2015
Between
Republic
Applicant
and
The Land Registrar Rachuonyo East, South & North Sub-Counties
Respondent
and
Otieno Kennedy Tindi
Exparte
Ruling
1. This ruling is in respect of service of an application by way of a notice of motion dated August 16, 2022 and filed in court on August 27, 2022 where the applicant/interested party, Joseph Aroka Nyandega through the firm of Modi and Company Advocates, is seeking, among other orders, that he be joined as an interested party in the instant judicial review application and that judgment delivered on July 29, 2021 and consequential orders made affecting land reference number Central Kasipul Kawere/2147, be set aside.
2. The ex parte applicant, Otieno Kennedy Tindi through the firm of Mugo and Associates Advocates, opposed the application by way of his replying affidavit sworn on May 10, 2022. He implored the court to dismiss the application with costs.
3. Counsel for the applicant and counsel for the ex parte applicant filed and exchanged their respective submissions in respect of the application.
4. The determination of the application cannot be delivered on this date in the interest of justice as stated infra.
5. It is crystal clear that counsel for the applicant has not served the application and the submissions upon the respondent, Land Registrar Rachuonyo East, South and North Sub Counties.
6. This court is duty-bound to ensure that the respondent is made aware of the existence of the application and to have the respondent served with all the necessary papers. The respondent has the right to appear and respond to the application or decline to do so; see Ogada v Mollin [2009] KLR 620.
7. All the parties in the present application are entitled to access justice as stipulated in article 48 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Moreover, the parties have the unlimited right to be heard herein pursuant to articles 25 (c) and 50 (1) of the same Constitution.
8. Indeed, a fair opportunity to be heard is a fundamental principle of justice; see Halsbury’s Laws of England 5th Edition 2010 Volume 61 paragraph 639 and James Kanyiita Nderitu and another v Marios Philotas Ghikas and another (2016) eKLR.
9. On that account, The applicant’s counsel shall serve the respondent with the application and the submissions within seven days from this date for a response thereto together with submissions, if any, to be filed and served within ten days from the date of service.
10. The application is fixed for February 22, 2023 to confirm compliance and for further directions.
11. It is so ordered.
DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT HOMA-BAY THIS 25TH DAY OF JANUARY 2023. G.M.A ONG’ONDOJUDGEPRESENT1. None.2. Okello, Court Assistant