[2021] KEHC 13015 (KLR)
The court found that the Plaintiffs had obtained a valid judgment for specific performance, and all subsequent applications by the Defendant to challenge or delay execution had been dismissed. There was no legal impediment to executing the decree. The Defendant's refusal to execute the transfer documents...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEHC 13015 (KLR)
- Parties
- Plaintiff: Rose Wambui Kamau; Plaintiff: Judy Wairimu Kamau; Plaintiff: Julius Karuga Macharia; Defendant: Cecelia Mou Charles–Harris
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Civil Case 337 of 2010
- Procedural Posture
- Civil Case / Post Judgment Application for Execution of Decree
- Outcome
- Application allowed; orders granted as prayed.
- Judges
- DAS Majanja
- Legal Topics
- Specific Performance, Transfer of Land, Execution of Judgment, Court Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Rose Wambui Kamau
Plaintiff
Judy Wairimu Kamau
Plaintiff
Julius Karuga Macharia
Plaintiff
Cecelia Mou Charles–Harris
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Civil Case / Post Judgment Application for Execution of Decree
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Defendant should be compelled to execute transfer documents to give effect to the judgment for specific performance.
- 2 Whether the Deputy Registrar should be authorized to execute the transfer documents in default by the Defendant.
- 3 Whether there are any legal impediments to the execution of the decree in favour of the Plaintiffs.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the Plaintiffs had obtained a valid judgment for specific performance, and all subsequent applications by the Defendant to challenge or delay execution had been dismissed. There was no legal impediment to executing the decree. The Defendant's refusal to execute the transfer documents necessitated the court's intervention to ensure compliance with its orders. The court therefore ordered the Defendant to execute all relevant documents to effect the transfer of Nairobi/Block 91/399 to the Plaintiffs within 30 days, failing which the Deputy Registrar was authorized to execute the documents on the Defendant's behalf. The Chief Land Registrar was also directed to give full...
Court Disposition
Application allowed; orders granted as prayed.
Orders
- The Defendant is directed to execute all relevant documents and give effect to the Judgment issued on 22nd June 2016 and transfer Land Parcel Nairobi/Block 91/399 to the Plaintiffs and/or their nominees within 30 days.
- In default of compliance, the Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Commercial and Tax Division, is authorized and directed to execute all documents and instruments of transfer of Land Parcel Nairobi/Block 91/399 on behalf of the Defendant in favour of the Plaintiffs.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
MILIMANI LAW COURTS
COMMERCIAL AND TAX DIVISION
CORAM: D. S. MAJANJA J.
CIVIL CASE NO. 337 OF 2010
BETWEEN
ROSE WAMBUI KAMAU........................................................................1ST PLAINTIFF
JUDY WAIRIMU KAMAU.....................................................................2ND PLAINTIFF
JULIUS KARUGA MACHARIA.............................................................3RD PLAINTIFF
AND
CECELIA MOU CHARLES –HARRIS.......................................................DEFENDANT
RULING
1. On 22nd June 2017, Tuiyott J., allowed the Plaintiffs’ suit against the Defendant for specific performance in respect of the property known as Nairobi/Block 91/399 registered in the Defendant’s name. The Plaintiffs, who are also decree-holders, have now moved the court by the Notice of Motion dated 12th April 2018 seeking the following orders from this court:
1. THAT the Honourable court be pleased to order the Defendant to sign all relevant papers and give effect to the Judgment issued on 22nd June 2016 and transfer of land on land parcel Nairobi/Block 91/399.
2. THAT in default of complying with prayer 1 of the order above, the Deputy Registrar of Milimani High Court, Commercial and Admiralty Division be authorises to sign all documents and instruments of transfer of land parcel Nairobi.Block 91/399 on behalf of the Defendant and a title deed be issued to the Plaintiff or their nominees.
2. The application is supported by the affidavit of Rose Wambui Kamau sworn on 12th April 2018. It is premised on the ground that Plaintiffs obtained a judgment in their favour on 22nd June 2017. That the stay of execution pending appeal given when the judgment was read has since lapsed and subsequent review applications filed by the Defendant have been dismissed and that there is nothing standing in the way of execution of the decree. The Plaintiffs claim that the Defendant is not willing to a facilitate the transfer the suit property to the Plaintiffs in accordance with the judgment.
3. I have perused the court file and I note that Tuiyott J., dismissed the Defendant’s Notice of Motion dated 4th July 2017 seeking to review the judgment by a ruling dated 1st December 2017. By a further ruling dated 1st February 2019, the learned judge dismissed the Defendant’s Notice of Motion dated 24th May 2018 seeking judgment on the counterclaim and by a ruling dated 20th December 2019, the learned judge also dismissed the Defendant’s application seeking to set draw the decree in the manner propose by her.
4. I also note that there is substantial correspondence and a record of communication between the Defendant and other officers of this court on matter that are not germane to the validity of Judgment and Decree. I am therefore satisfied that there is nothing impeding the execution of the Judgment and Decree in the Plaintiffs’ favour. Since the application which has been on file since 2018 is not opposed and in order to bring this matter to conclusion, I allow the application and order as follows:
(a) The Defendant be and is hereby directed to execute all relevant documents and give effect to the Judgment issued on 22nd June 2016 and transfer Land Parcel Nairobi/Block 91/399 to the Plaintiffs and or their nominees within 30 days from the date hereof.
(b) In default of compliance with Order No. (a) above, the Deputy Registrar of High Court, Commercial and Tax Division be and is hereby authorised and directed to execute all documents and instruments of transfer of Land Parcel Nairobi/Block 91/399 on behalf of the Defendant in favour of the Plaintiffs.
(c) The Chief Land Registrar is directed to give full effect to the Judgment and Decree herein and the orders hereinabove.
(d) This Ruling and the Orders shall be served forthwith on the Defendant personally for compliance.
(e) The matter is fixed for compliance with the aforesaid orders before the Deputy Registrar on
DATED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI THIS 8TH DAY OF JUNE 2021.
D. S. MAJANJA
JUDGE
Court of Assistant: Mr M. Onyango
Mr Odoyo instructed by Kipkenda and Company Advocates for the Plaintiffs.