[2021] KEELC 4732 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT OF KENYA

AT ELDORET

E & L PETITION NO. 16 OF 2018

THE 172 RESIDENTS WITHIN LAKE BOGORIA NATIONAL RESERVE....1ST PETITIONER

KIPTOROI MOTOLOI..................................................................................2ND PETITIONER

KIBON CHEPKOK........................................................................................3RD PETITIONER

CHERUTICH KIMAIWA...............................................................................4TH PETITIONER

WILLIAM CHANGOLE................................................................................5TH PETITIONER

KIBUTIEY CHENITIAN.................................................................................6TH PETITIONER

TUITOEK KIPKOROS...................................................................................7TH PETITIONER

KIPSONGOK CHELIMO..............................................................................8TH PETITIONER

CHEPCHIENY CHANGWON.......................................................................9TH PETITIONER

KIPSOI CHELIMO......................................................................................10TH PETITIONER

KIPKULEI KIPTEWERET..............................................................................11TH PETITIONER

MENGECH NDIRIM.....................................................................................12TH PETITIONER

KIPROP LOKOTOS....................................................................................13TH PETITIONER

KIKURERE LOKOTOS................................................................................14TH PETITIONER

ABIAN LOKOTOS.......................................................................................15TH PETITIONER

KITURO LOKOTOS....................................................................................16TH PETITIONER

JACKSON BAREHIGEI...............................................................................17TH PETITIONER

KIPKORIR CHEMNGENO..........................................................................18TH PETITIONER

JOHN CHIRCHIR.......................................................................................19TH PETITIONER

KIPKOITUI CHIRCHIR..............................................................................20TH PETITIONER

CHERONO KIMALYA.................................................................................21ST PETITIONER

KIMUGON CHELIMO.................................................................................22ND PETITIONER

KIPSOI KIPSARMAT...................................................................................23RD PETITIONER

KOMEN KANGOGO...................................................................................24TH PETITIONER

BOKORIA KIPTEK.......................................................................................25TH PETITIONER

KIBARAR KIPULEK.....................................................................................26TH PETITIONER

JOSEPH CHERUTICH.................................................................................27TH PETITIONER

TUIYA KIPSARMAT.......................................................................................28TH PETITIONER

KIBET BOKORIA..........................................................................................29TH PETITIONER

CHEBON KIPKECH......................................................................................30TH PETITIONER

KIPTAI CHEBET..............................................................................................31ST PETITIONER

BOKORIA CHEPKOCHE.............................................................................32ND PETITIONER

JOSEPH ARUSEI WENDOT.........................................................................33RD PETITIONER

KANAAH KAMUREN....................................................................................34TH PETITIONER

JOEL CHEPSOI CHELEGO..........................................................................35TH PETITIONER

JOSEPH KIPTEROI........................................................................................36TH PETITIONER

KIPARAR KABIEGOI.....................................................................................37TH PETITIONER

RICHARD YEGON..........................................................................................38TH PETITIONER

JOSEPH KAPTUNAI.......................................................................................39TH PETITIONER

SOMOEI CHEPSAT.........................................................................................40TH PETITIONER

KIPKERTICH KIPTEK......................................................................................41ST PETITIONER

KIPTEK KAMUREN..........................................................................................42ND PETITIONER

MARABOI KIPTEK..........................................................................................43RD PETITIONER

CHEPNGETICH CHEPYATOR........................................................................44TH PETITIONER

BOGORIA CHEPNGETICH............................................................................45TH PETITIONER

KIPSIOLEM CHEPYATOR..............................................................................46TH PETITIONER

BOGORIA KIPTEBENY....................................................................................47TH PETITIONER

CHERONO CHEPSERGON.............................................................................48TH PETITIONER

KIPCHEMIS ROTICH......................................................................................49TH PETITIONER

KOMEN ROTICH.............................................................................................50TH PETITIONER

KIBOWEN CHEPYATOR..................................................................................51ST PETITIONER

KIGEN CHEBOIBEI...........................................................................................52ND PETITIONER

CHEPTOO CHEPSERECH...............................................................................53RD PETITIONER

KOMERA NAKWECHI......................................................................................54TH PETITIONER

TUITOEK KOMERA...........................................................................................55TH PETITIONER

RUSAINE KOMERA...........................................................................................56TH PETITIONER

CHERUIYOT KANGOGO................................................................................57TH PETITIONER

KIPKERTICH KOIMA.......................................................................................58TH PETITIONER

CHELIMO KISALI.............................................................................................59TH PETITIONER

CHERUYOT LONDONAI.................................................................................60TH PETITIONER

CHERONO KIPKIRWO....................................................................................61ST PETITIONER

KIPROP CHEPYEGON......................................................................................62ND PETITIONER

KIPKUTOL AMDANY.........................................................................................63RD PETITIONER

CHEPKUI KIPCHUTAROTWET.........................................................................64TH PETITIONER

CHEPSERGON CHANGWONY........................................................................65TH PETITIONER

KIPTUI CHEBON...............................................................................................66TH PETITIONER

KONIKI KIPKURERE..........................................................................................67TH PETITIONER

CHEPKUTO CHELAL.........................................................................................68TH PETITIONER

KOIMUKUL TUITOEK.........................................................................................69TH PETITIONER

CHEMOLIOL CHEPYATOR...............................................................................70TH PETITIONER

SANGUNYA KIGEN..............................................................................................71ST PETITIONER

CHEBOI CHEPYAGON......................................................................................72ND PETITIONER

KIPKURERE JACKSON KIPNGETICH..............................................................73RD PETITIONER

CHEPKONGA CHEPYAGON.............................................................................74TH PETITIONER

MUTEI CHEPYAGON...........................................................................................75TH PETITIONER

KIBET KENDOGOR..............................................................................................76TH PETITIONER

WILLIAM KIBET...................................................................................................77TH PETITIONER

CHERONO KENDOGOR.....................................................................................78TH PETITIONER

CHERUTICH KIBET...............................................................................................79TH PETITIONER

KIPCHEU CHERONO...........................................................................................80TH PETITIONER

KIPKORIR CHEPKECHEI.....................................................................................81ST PETITIONER

DANIEL C. CHEPKONGA.....................................................................................82ND PETITIONER

TUITOEK CHEPYATOR.........................................................................................83RD PETITIONER

SAMWEL K. CHEPKONGA...................................................................................84TH PETITIONER

WILSON CHEMITEI..............................................................................................85TH PETITIONER

CHEMITEI CHEPYAGAN.......................................................................................86TH PETITIONER

SOLOMON KIYAYAN...........................................................................................87TH PETITIONER

CHEMURGUIT SAIRERE.......................................................................................88TH PETITIONER

KIPTONUI CHESIRE..............................................................................................89TH PETITIONER

SUMUKUONY CHEPTIONY..................................................................................90TH PETITIONER

KAMAR CHEPKONGA...........................................................................................91ST PETITIONER

TOYAI CHEBET.......................................................................................................92ND PETITIONER

AKENO CHEBET.....................................................................................................93RD PETITIONER

CHEBET KIPKULYES..............................................................................................94TH PETITIONER

CHEMALINGA CHEPKETON.................................................................................95TH PETITIONER

KOKWELEL CHEPKONGA....................................................................................96TH PETITIONER

PAULO CHESANG..................................................................................................97TH PETITIONER

CHEPKOCHEI ROTICH.........................................................................................98TH PETITIONER

CHIRCHIR KIPNYORGIS.....................................................................................99TH PETITIONER

CHEBURET KIMARINY........................................................................................100TH PETITIONER

KIPKOECH CHEPKOCHEI..................................................................................101ST PETITIONER

CHELAL TUITOEK................................................................................................102ND PETITIONER

ROTOK KIPKEMEI...............................................................................................103RD PETITIONER

CHESUT CHIRCHIR............................................................................................104TH PETITIONER

CHIRCHIR KIPKURERE......................................................................................105TH PETITIONER

KIPLAGAT KIPKINOI...........................................................................................106TH PETITIONER

ERIC L. CHEBET...................................................................................................107TH PETITIONER

ERIC L. CHEPKONGA.........................................................................................108TH PETITIONER

CHEBET CHEBOTIPIN..........................................................................................109TH PETITIONER

TOROITICH CHEBOTIBIN...................................................................................110TH PETITIONER

LORUKOTI KANDIE...............................................................................................111TH PETITIONER

KIKIOS CHEPYATOR............................................................................................112TH PETITIONER

KAIBOS KIBORUS................................................................................................113TH PETITIONER

KIMARU CHEPYATOR...........................................................................................114TH PETITIONER

KIPNGETICH KIPSORO........................................................................................115TH PETITIONER

KOBETBET KIPURERE............................................................................................116TH PETITIONER

KIPCHUMBA CHEPSAIGUT..................................................................................117TH PETITIONER

KIROTICH KOBETBET............................................................................................118TH PETITIONER

JOSEPH KOBETBET.................................................................................................119TH PETITIONER

CHIRCHIR LAGAT...................................................................................................120TH PETITIONER

SOTE CHEPKAITANY................................................................................................121ST PETITIONER

KIPKOROR CHEPSONGOL...................................................................................122ND PETITIONER

LOCHOMOI CHIRCHIR........................................................................................123RD PETITIONER

CHEPNGETICH CHEPKURUI..................................................................................124TH PETITIONER

CHERUTICH KIPKIOS.............................................................................................125TH PETITIONER

KEINO CHEBOTIPIN................................................................................................126TH PETITIONER

WILLIAM K. CHEPKONGA.....................................................................................127TH PETITIONER

KANGOGO KIGEN...................................................................................................128TH PETITIONER

KIPKORIS ROTICH.................................................................................................129TH PETITIONER

WILLAIM K. KIPMELIL............................................................................................130TH PETITIONER

KIPKOME KANDIE.....................................................................................................131ST PETITIONER

PAULO KIGEN............................................................................................................132ND PETITIONER

KIPYEMIT KIMARINY................................................................................................133RD PETITIONER

JOHN CHEPOR CHEMITEI.......................................................................................134TH PETITIONER

DAVID CHEPYATOR...................................................................................................135TH PETITIONER

KIPNGETICH KOBETBET...........................................................................................136TH PETITIONER

JOHN KIPKURERE.....................................................................................................137TH PETITIONER

KIPKERTICH KIPMARINY.........................................................................................138TH PETITIONER

WILSON CHERONO..................................................................................................139TH PETITIONER

DAVID KIPNGETICH...................................................................................................140TH PETITIONER

TOROITICH MUSA......................................................................................................141ST PETITIONER

CHESANG KIPROTICH..............................................................................................142ND PETITIONER

JOSEPH C. CHEPYATOR...........................................................................................143RD PETITIONER

TIGAMOI CHEMURSOI..............................................................................................144TH PETITIONER

MOLOK CHEPNGETICH............................................................................................145TH PETITIONER

KIPSAMBO CHEBOI...................................................................................................146TH PETITIONER

ELIJAH CHEMONGE....................................................................................................147TH PETITIONER

KAIBOS CHEMALAN...................................................................................................148TH PETITIONER

TUITOEK CHESANG.....................................................................................................149TH PETITIONER

DAVID L. CHEPSAKUIT................................................................................................150TH PETITIONER

KIYEGO KANGOGO...............................................................................................…..151ST PETITIONER

MOLOK CHESANG......................................................................................................152ND PETITIONER

CHEBOI KANGOGO.....................................................................................................153RD PETITIONER

WILSON K. KIPKULIOS...............................................................................................154TH PETITIONER

KIBET KIBOIT................................................................................................................155TH PETITIONER

KIPNYARGIS CHEBET..................................................................................................156TH PETITIONER

KIPMOLEL CHEROP.....................................................................................................157TH PETITIONER

CHEPSERGON CHELAL...............................................................................................158TH PETITIONER

WILLIAM CHEROP........................................................................................................159TH PETITIONER

JOHN CHEBOR..............................................................................................................160TH PETITIONER

JOSEPH KIPNYOEK........................................................................................................161ST PETITIONER

LOCHOMOI CHEPKONGA..........................................................................................162ND PETITIONER

CHESANG CHEPKUTO.............................................................................................…..163RD PETITIONER

CHEBET CHESIRE...........................................................................................................164TH PETITIONER

CHEPTUMO CHESANG.................................................................................................165TH PETITIONER

KIBONGOCHOCH CHEMOIWO.........................................................................……166TH PETITIONER

KABUTIE CHEMOIWO.............................................................................................…..167TH PETITIONER

KIGEN KIPKWE...............................................................….........................................…168TH PETITIONER

KIPKORIR ARAP CHERUIYOT......................................................................................169TH PETITIONER

CHELAGAT KIPMULWA.................................................................................................170TH PETITIONER

CHEPLEGO LOROKI.......................................................................................................171ST PETITIONER

VERSUS

NATIONAL LAND COMMISSION...................................................................................1ST RESPONDENT

THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LANDS & PHYSICAL PLANNING..2ND RESPONDENT

THE COUNTY SECRETARY, BARINGO COUNTY GOVERNMENT.............................3RD RESPONDENT

THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERRESPONSIBLE FOR MATTERS RELATING

TO LAND,BARINGO COUNTY GOVERNMENT...........................................................4TH RESPONDENT

BARINGO COUNTY GOVERNMENT.............................................................................5TH RESPONDENT

THE HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL...................................................................................6TH RESPONDENT

KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE (FORMERLY WILDLIFE CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT

DEPARTMENT)...................................................................................................................7TH RESPONDENT

MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND WILDLIFE, (STATE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE)....8TH RESPONDENT

RULING

[1ST RESPONDENT’S PRELIMINARY OBJECTION DATED 29TH OCTOBER, 2019]

1. The 1st Respondent filed the Notice of Preliminary Objection dated the 29th October, 2019 and filed on the 30th October, 2019 on the petition raising six (6) grounds summarized as follows;

(a) That the Petitioner is without capacity to file and maintain the petition and is without proprietary interest over the suit land.

(b) That the Court is without jurisdiction to entertain the petition by dint of Article 67(3) of the Constitution, Section 15 of the National Land Commission Actand Part viii of the Land Act.

(c) That this petition being a claim for compensation clothed as a violation of fundamental rights and freedoms should have been filed as an ordinary suit, and not a petition, and should therefore be struck out with costs.

2. That upon hearing Counsel for the parties on 6th February, 2020, directions were given for the preliminary objection to be heard through written submissions, to be filed and served within the timelines given. That the learned Counsel for the Petitioners and 7th Respondent filed their submissions dated the 20th July, 2020 and 18th September, 2020 respectively. The Petitioners’ Counsel filed a supplementary submission dated the 19th October, 2020. That during the mention of 26th November, 2020, the learned Counsel for 2nd, 6th and 8th Respondents associated himself with and adopted the submission filed by the learned Counsel for the 7th respondent.

3. That as there are no submissions received from the learned Counsel for the 1st Respondent, the court will consider that filed by the 7th Respondent’s Counsel first as it is in support of the preliminary objection. The learned Counsel submitted that the preliminary objection raises questions of law and is therefore in agreement with the threshold set in Mukisa Biscuits Manufacturing Company Limited Vs West End Distributors (1969) E. A. 696. That the Petitioner, who is registered under the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Service, is not a legal person capable of suing or being sued on its own name. That as was held in the cases of National Bank of Kenya Ltd Vs Christian Community Life Church [2020] eKLR and Kituo Cha Sehria Vs John Ndirangu Kariuki & Another [2013] eKLR, the petition should be struck out as the Petitioner is without capacity. That the Endorois Welfare Certificate filed with the petition was issued in February, 2018 but there is no evidence to confirm that the 172 residents named were alive when the petition was filed. The learned counsel also cited the cases of Kipsiwo Community Self-Help Group Vs Attorney General and 6 Others [2013] eKLR, and David Kamau Njoroge (Deceased) Vs Savings & Loan Ltd (2006) eKLR, and asked the court to strike out the petition. The learned Counsel further submitted that the Petitioners have not shown that they have interest in the suit land or have acquired any rights on the suit land. The Counsel referred to the case of Vekariya Investment Limited Vs Kenya Airports Authority & 2 Others [2014] eKLR and Joseph Ihugo Mwaura and Others Vs The Attorney General and Others Nairobi Petition No. 498 of 2009 (unreported) on the requirement for a party to demonstrate that they hold recognizable rights over the suit property to succeed. It was submitted that the Petitioners have not demonstrated any proprietary interests over the suit land, having lost it at the expiry of 12 years from the time the land was alienated by the Government. That the petition is therefore statute time barred by dint of Section 7 of the Limitation of Actions Act. That the Petitioners’ claim arose over 50 years ago and to allow it, will amount to unfairness and violation of the rule of law. The Counsel cited the case of Mehta Vs Shah [1965] E.A. 32. The learned Counsel further submitted that the Court is without jurisdiction and should down its tools as was held in the case of Owners of the Motor Vessel Lilian S [1989] KLR 1, Kennedy Mureithi & Another Vs Peterson Karimi Gacewa [2016] eKLR, and Bosire Ongero Vs Royal Media Services [2015] eKLR. That further, the claim should have been pursued as an ordinary suit and not a constitutional petition and should therefore be dismissed for being an abuse of the judicial process with costs.

4. The learned Counsel for the Petitioners submitted that none of the five grounds on Notice of Preliminary Objections raised by the 1st Respondent constitutes a true preliminary objection as defined in Mikisa Biscuits Manufacturing Company Ltd Vs West End Distributors Ltd [1969] E. A. 696andOraro Vs Mbajja Civil suit No. 85 of 1992. That the ground that the Petitioners are without capacity allegedly because some are dead, is not a pure point of law as it would require evidence to be tabled. That the 1st and 7th Defendants who have raised the allegation have a legal duty to tender proof as was held in Evans Otieno Nyakwana Vs Cleophas Bwana Ongaro [2015] eKLR. That the ground of capacity must fail.

That on ground two of the petition being premature and hence the court lacking jurisdiction, the learned Counsel disputed that the petition is about historical injustices. He submitted that the petition has invoked Articles 10, 19, 20 to 23, 27, 40, 47 to 48 and 50 of the Constitution as the Petitioners’ rights in the bill of rights have been denied, violated or infringed, which issues cannot be investigated by the National Land Commission. The learned Counsel referred to the case of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce Industry KNCCI (Murunga Chapter) & 2 Others Vs Delmonte Kenya Ltd & 3 Others; County Government of Kiambu (Interested Party) [2020] eKLR, on what amounts to a historical injustice. That ground 2 is not a pure point of law as evidence would need to be availed and should fail also. That the further amended petition raises questions of law that by dint of Article 165(3)(b) of the Constitution can only be determined by the court and not the National Land Commission.

The learned Counsel submitted that ground three that the petitioners have not exhausted the internal mechanism under Part viii of the Land Act and hence the Court has no jurisdiction is also not a pure point of law, and must fail as the suit lands were compulsorily acquired under the Constitution of Kenya (Repealed) and the Trust Land Act before the enactment of the Land Act.

That on ground 4, the learned Counsel submitted that it is not a pure point of law as it requires delving into facts to determine whether or not the Petitioners have proprietary interests over the suit land.

That on ground 5, the Counsel submitted that it is not a question of pure point of law as it would require facts to be ascertained, and therefore the preliminary objection should be dismissed with costs. The learned Counsel for the Petitioners later filed the supplementary affidavit to respond to the 7th Respondent’s submissions. It is their submissions that the preliminary objection was improperly raised, and leads to unnecessary increase of costs and delay. That the 171 Petitioners are before the Court in their own names as the Amended Petition is not a representative suit. That in view of Article 22 of the Constitution, the ground of locus standi fails. That the superior courts’ decisions cited by the 7th Respondent among them National Bank of Kenya Ltd Vs Christian Community Life Church, Kituo Cha Sheria Vs John Ndirangu Kariuki & Another, Kipsiwo Community Self-Help Group Vs Attorney General & 6 Others and David Kamau Njoroge (Deceased) Vs Savings & Loans (K) Ltd have no application to the instant petition and are distinguishable. That the petition is not by Endorois Welfare and the Petitioners do not represent the said Welfare. That the 2nd to 171st Petitioners have come to court in their own names, and therefore have capacity and the preliminary objection is misconceived. That the Petitioners have grounded their petition on Articles 117(2) (4) and 118(1) of the Constitution of Kenya (Repealed) and Section 7(1), 8 and 13 of the Trust Land Act Chapter 288 of Laws of Kenya as it is a claim by the local inhabitants of the land then vested on them under African Customary Law, that was set apart without prompt payment of full compensation. That the Petitioners therefore have a right to a prompt payment of full compensation and the decisions in Vekariya Investment Limited Vs Kenya Airports Authority & 2 Others [2014] eKLR and Joseph Ihugo Mwaura and Others Vs The Attorney General and Others are distinguishable. That the question as to whether the Petitioners have proprietary interests capable of protection by the court cannot be decided without ascertaining the same through facts which cannot be determined in limine through a preliminary objection.

The learned Counsel cited the case of Bahola Mkalindi Rhigho & 9 Others Vs Michael Seth Kaseme & 3 Others [2016] eKLR, on the position that setting apart of the land without prompt payment of full compensation was of no effect. The Counsel further submitted that there is no time limit for filing of constitutional petitions and the 7th Respondent cannot hide under the Limitations of Actions Act. The Counsel cited the case of Chief Land Registrar and 4 Others Vs Nathan Tirop Koech & 4 Others (2018) eKLR, where the Court of Appeal reviewed previous decisions and concluded that there is no time limit for filing of a Constitutional petition, and that the period of limitation in the Limitation of Actions Act does not apply to violation of rights and freedoms guaranteed under the constitution. That the Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the petition in light of Article 165(3) (b) of the Constitution and the preliminary objection should be dismissed with costs.

5. The issues for the Court’s determination are as follows;

(a) Whether the Petitioners have proprietary interest over the suit land.

(b) Whether the Petitioners are with capacity/locus standi to file and prosecute this petition.

(c) Whether the Court is with jurisdiction in the petition.

(d) Who pays the costs?

6. The court has carefully considered the five grounds on the preliminary objection, the submissions by the learned Counsel for the 7th Respondent and Petitioners, the superior courts’ decisions cited thereon, the pleadings filed and come to the following determinations;

(a) That these proceedings were commenced through the Petition dated the 3rd December, 2018 that was amended on 24th December, 2018 and further amended on the 6th May, 2019. That the initial petition dated the 3rd December, 2018 named the Petitioner as “The 172 Residents within Lake Bogoria National Reserve” and had seven named Respondents. The Petitioners’ names were listed under paragraph 5 of the Petition totaling 170. That the petition dated 3rd December, 2018 was amended through the Amended Petition dated 24th December, 2018 that cancelled the names of the 170 Petitioners appearing under paragraph 5 of the petition and introducing another list of similar number. That the Amended Petition dated 24th December, 2018 was replaced by the Further Amended Petition dated the 6th May, 2019 which retained the initial Petitioners as the 1st Petitioner and added the 2nd to 171st Petitioners, and the 8th Respondent at the heading among other amendments. That the 1st Respondent’s Notice of Preliminary Objection dated the 29th October, 2019 has been supported by the 7th Respondent through their written submissions dated 18th September, 2020 on four grounds that the Petitioners lack legal capacity; and do not have proprietary interest capable of protection by the court; that the court has no jurisdiction; and that Petitioners’ claim for compensation ought to have been commenced through an ordinary suit and not a petition.

(b) That after considering the submissions filed by the learned Counsel for 7th Respondent and the Petitioners, and the decided superior courts’ decisions cited, the court finds that the position put forward by the 7th Respondent could have been correct had the Petition not have been amended through the Further Amended Petition of 6th May, 2019 which introduced the 2nd to the 171st Petitioners as parties in their names. That the Further Amended Petition, however, retained as the 1st Petitioner the original party named “The 172 Residents within Lake Bogoria National Reserve”. That while the capacity of the 1st Petitioner may be challenged on the basis of not being a legal person, and failing to sue through the registered or elected officials as was held in the case of Kituo Cha Sheria Vs John Ndirangu Kariuki & Another [2013] eKLR, among others, the other Petitioners who have raised a claim of infringement of their rights have a right under Article 22 of the Constitution, 2010 to move the court for redress. The relevant part of the said Article states;

“22. (1) Every person has the right to institute court proceedings claiming that a right or fundamental freedom in the Bill of Rights has been denied, violated or infringed, or is threatened.”

That as can be discerned from paragraphs 16, 17, 18, 26, 30 and 39 of the Further Amended Petition, the Petitioners have invoked Articles 10, 19, 20, 21, 23, 27, 40, 47, 48 and 50 of the Constitution, which are matters that can best be dealt with through a petition and not an ordinary suit.

(c) That on the issue of limitation and in view of the long period the matter has taken from the date of cause of action to the time the Petition was filed, the post 2010 constitution decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Chief Land Registrar & 4 Others Vs Nathan Tirop Koech & 4 Others [2018] eKLR, that Limitation of Actions Act does not apply in proceedings for violation of rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution means that ground must fail. The Court of Appeal’s decision is binding to this court.

(d) That paragraphs 9 to 12 of the Further Amended Petition shows the origin or basis of the Petitioners’ claim. That as can be seen in the decision cited by the Petitioners’ Counsel of Bahola Mkalindi Rhigho & 9 Others Vs Michael Seth Kaseme & 3 Others [Supra], such determinations are better dealt with through the Court as the National Land Commission is without jurisdiction.

(e) That pursuant to Article 22 (1), 23(1) and (3), 162(2)(b) and 165(5)(b) of the Constitution, 2010, this court has jurisdiction to hear and determine this petition contrary to the preliminary objection raised by the 1st Respondent and the submissions by the 7th Respondents.

(f) That though the court finds no merit in the preliminary objection, the Court is of the view that the costs should abide the outcome of the petition.

7. That from the foregoing, the Court finds no merit in the 1st Respondent’s preliminary objection dated the 29th October, 2019 and the same is dismissed with costs to abide the outcome of the petition. It is so ordered.

DELIVERED VIRTUALLY AND DATED AT ELDORET THIS 17TH DAY OF MARCH, 2021.

S. M. KIBUNJA

JUDGE

In the presence of:

Petitioners: Absent.

Respondents: Absent.

Counsel: Mr. Korir for Arusei for Petitioners.

M/s Oduor for 7th Respondent.

Mr. Odongo for 2nd, 6th and 8th Respondents.

Court Assistant: Christine

and the Ruling is to be transmitted digitally by the Deputy Registrar to the Counsel on record through their e-mail addresses.