[2017] KEELC 3497 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant is entitled to enforcement of the orders previously issued on 30.9.2014 and 25.11.2015, as the respondents have not complied and no appeal or setting aside of the orders has occurred. The respondents' continued occupation and subdivision of the land in defiance of the court's...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2017] KEELC 3497 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Samson K. A. Tim; Respondent: Grace Kimoi Bittok; Respondent: Collins K. Bittok; Respondent: Elvis K. Bittok; Respondent: Nelson O. Odhiambo; Respondent: Hon. Attorney General
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Eldoret
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Environment & Land Case 346 of 2013
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Enforcement Application
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Judges
- A Ombwayo
- Legal Topics
- Enforcement of Court Orders, Contempt of Court, Land Ownership Disputes
- 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
Samson K. A. Tim
Applicant
Grace Kimoi Bittok
Respondent
Collins K. Bittok
Respondent
Elvis K. Bittok
Respondent
Nelson O. Odhiambo
Respondent
Hon. Attorney General
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Ruling on Enforcement Application
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Officer Commanding Eldama Ravine Police Station should be directed to assist in enforcing previous court orders regarding L.R. NO. LEMBUS/TORONGO/790.
- 2 Whether the respondents have disobeyed valid court orders relating to the applicant's ownership and possession of the suit property.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant is entitled to enforcement of the orders previously issued on 30.9.2014 and 25.11.2015, as the respondents have not complied and no appeal or setting aside of the orders has occurred. The respondents' continued occupation and subdivision of the land in defiance of the court's orders, coupled with their failure to respond to the application, justified the granting of the enforcement order. The court exercised its inherent power to ensure its orders are respected and directed the Officer Commanding Eldama Ravine Police Station to assist in enforcement, emphasizing that court orders must be obeyed to uphold the rule of law.
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- The Officer Commanding Eldama Ravine Police Station is directed to assist in the enforcement of the orders dated 30.9.2014 and 25.11.2015 affirming the prior orders of this court.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
20 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT OF KENYA AT ELDORET
E & L CASE NO. 346 OF 2013
SAMSON K. A. TIM…………………..………………......……APPLICANT
VERSUS
GRACE KIMOI BITTOK……………...………….....…...1ST RESPONDENT
COLLINS K. BITTOK……….............................………..2ND RESPONDENT
ELVIS K. BITTOK…………………………….................3RD RESPONDENT
NELSON O. ODHIAMBO ........………………......….…..4TH RESPONDENT
HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL…..…………………….….5TH RESPONDENT
RULING
The application before court is dated 16. 1.2017. The applicant seeks orders that this court to direct the Officer Commanding Eldama Ravine Police Station to assist in the enforcement of the orders dated 30. 9.2014 and subsequent orders dated 25. 11. 2015 affirming the prior orders. The application is based on grounds that the plaintiff is the bonafide registered owner of the suit property L.R. NO. LEMBUS/TORONGO/790, 791, 792 and 721 respectively. That the respondents have forcefully entered into the plaintiff’s/Applicant’s parcel of L.R. NO. LEMBUS/TORONGO/790 and sub-divided the same into three portions ignoring the Court orders issued by this Honourable court. That it is in the interest of justice that the orders sought is granted. That this application is brought in good faith and in the interest of justice. The same is supported by the affidavit of Samson K. A. Tim who states that the orders were granted by this honourable court on 30th day of September, 2014 but all along, the respondents have disobeyed. That this honourable court’s orders were affirmed on the 25th day of November, 2015. That the respondent blatantly breached the orders of the court and a contempt motion filed on the 21st day of January, 2016 is yet to be determined. That the application for the contempt of the court orders is pending before this Honourable Court for Ruling.
That the respondents have further gone back to the land and caused more damage by demarcating/sub-dividing the land known as LEMBUS/TORONGO/790 into three portions and have dangerously become wild to the plaintiff.
That on the 28th day of December, 2016, the 1st respondent directed her sons namely Collins K. Bittok, Alvis K. Bitto, 2nd and 3rd respondent including Mathew Kipruto Bittok, Nickson K. Bittok and Anorld K. Bittok leading a group of almost twenty people who assisted them to disobey the court orders by entering into land LEMBUS/TORONGO/790 and subdivided the same into three portions and fencing with barbed wires and posts while they were armed.
The respondents had hired about 20 farm hand workers who were assisting them to contempt the court orders. That the respondent’s actions were with menace, malicious and with full knowledge of the court orders in place and the contempt proceedings as well. That the actions of the respondents were reported to the police vide OB25/28/12/2016 at Eldama Ravine Police Station in which he was advised to seek further court reinforcement order and further instructions which is hereby sought for. That he prays that the honourable court to order the OCS, Eldama Ravine Police to foresee the enforcement of the orders dated 30th day of September, 2014 and the subsequent orders dated 25th day of November, 2015. That he prays that the orders sought in this application be granted.
The application was served by the applicant to the advocates of the respondent but no reply was filed and nobody came to court.
I do find the application merited and do hereby order that the Officer Commanding Eldama Ravine Police Station to assist in the enforcement of the orders dated 30. 9.2014 and subsequent orders dated 25. 11. 2015 affirming the prior orders of this court which have not been set aside or appealed from. Orders accordingly.
DATED AND DELIVERED AT ELDORET THIS 10TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2017.
A. OMBWAYO
JUDGE