[2022] KEELC 417 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant failed to prosecute the petition for nearly five years despite obtaining interim orders and clear court directives. The explanation for the delay—lack of communication with previous counsel—was unconvincing, as the record showed the applicant's lawyers were present in court but the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2022] KEELC 417 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Simon Gaciata (suing as the legal representative of Thurania Anjuri, Deceased); Respondent: Robert Thiane; Respondent: Muketha Nkiriti; Respondent: Isaac Mugambi Ibaya; Respondent: Kenneth Mugambi Ibaya; Respondent: Charles Gitonga Ibaya; Respondent: Joseph Kinyua Ibaya; Respondent: DLASO Tigania West/East District; Respondent: Hon. Attorney General
- Court
- Environment and Land Court
- Court Station
- Environment and Land Court at Meru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Petition 19 of 2013
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Application / Application to Set Aside Dismissal and Reinstate Petition
- Outcome
- application dismissed with costs
- Legal Topics
- Dismissal for Want of Prosecution, Reinstatement of Suit, Inordinate Delay, Land Adjudication, Title Deeds, Costs Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Simon Gaciata (suing as the legal representative of Thurania Anjuri, Deceased)
Applicant
Robert Thiane
Respondent
Muketha Nkiriti
Respondent
Isaac Mugambi Ibaya
Respondent
Kenneth Mugambi Ibaya
Respondent
Charles Gitonga Ibaya
Respondent
Joseph Kinyua Ibaya
Respondent
DLASO Tigania West/East District
Respondent
Hon. Attorney General
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Application to Set Aside Dismissal and Reinstate Petition
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the dismissal of the petition for want of prosecution should be set aside and the petition reinstated.
- 2 Whether the delay in prosecuting the petition was justified or excusable.
- 3 Whether the issuance of title deeds to the respondents renders the application overtaken by events.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant failed to prosecute the petition for nearly five years despite obtaining interim orders and clear court directives. The explanation for the delay—lack of communication with previous counsel—was unconvincing, as the record showed the applicant's lawyers were present in court but the applicant himself was absent and failed to follow up. The court emphasized that the responsibility to prosecute a case lies with the litigant, not their advocate. Furthermore, the issuance of title deeds to the respondents after the dismissal of the petition rendered the application to reinstate the suit overtaken by events. Allowing reinstatement would be prejudicial and...
Court Disposition
application dismissed with costs
Orders
- The application dated 2.8.2021 is dismissed with costs to the respondents.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
46 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT MERU
PETTION NO. 19 OF 2013
SIMON GACIATA
(suing as the legal representative of
THURANIA ANJURI (Deceased)..............................................PETITIONER
VERSUS
ROBERT THIANE..........................................................1ST RESPONDENT
MUKETHA NKIRITI....................................................2ND RESPONDENT
ISAAC MUGAMBI IBAYA...........................................3RD RESPONDENT
KENNETH MUGAMBI IBAYA...................................4TH RESPONDENT
CHARLES GITONGA IBAYA.....................................5TH RESPONDENT
JOSEPH KINYUA IBAYA...........................................6TH RESPONDENT
DLASO TIGANIA WEST/EAST DISTRICT............7TH RESPONDENT
HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL..................................8TH RESPONDENT
RULING
A. The Application
1. By an application dated 2. 8.2021 the court is asked to set aside the orders issued on 13. 3.2018 dismissing this matter for want of prosecution and reinstate the petition for hearing. The application is supported by the affidavit sworn on the even date by Simion Gaciata.
2. The reasons given for the application are that the dismissal was out of fault by the previous advocates on record and lack of communication; the suitland is the only known homestead and if evicted the applicant shall be rendered homeless and that there would be irreparable loss and damage if the application was not allowed.
B. Grounds of Opposition
3. The application is opposed through a replying affidavit by Naitili for the 1st respondent sworn on 9. 12. 2021 and the response sworn on 9. 12. 2021, 3rd respondent sworn on 16. 12. 2021, 4th respondent sworn on 16. 12. 2021, 5th respondent sworn on 16. 12. 2021, 6th respondent sworn on 16. 12. 2021, and the 7th and 8th respondents through written submissions dated 25. 1.2022.
4. The main grounds by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respondents are that the A/R cases were heard and determined; each was issued with a parcel number as per the attached decision; there has been inordinate delay which is not explained; the applicant is on the land illegally; title deeds were issued after the dismissal of the petition hence it was overtaken by events and that the attached map showed the correct parcel numbers.
C. Written Submissions
5. On their part the 7th & 8th respondents submitted the mission to salvage the petition did not hold any water and rely on Habo Agencies Ltd vs Wilfred Odhiambo Musingo (2015) eKLR Ruga distributors Ltd vs Nairobi bottlers Ltd.
6. Secondly it was submitted by the 7th & 8th respondents there was laxity on the part of the petitioner who had a duty to follow up his matter hence an attempt to seek sympathy on his own faults should not be entertained as held in Rajech Rghan vs Fifty investment Ltd and another (2005) eKLR and Bains construction co. Ltd vs John Mzaze Ogowe (2011) eKLR.
7. On the inordinate delay and reasons for the same, the 7th & 8th respondents relied on Donald vs Rabalk vs JSC and another (2018) eKLR, Trusters of the Archdiocese of DarAsalm vs The chairman Bunju Village Good and others vs Bildad Wachira and another (2016) eKLR, water painters international vs Benjami Kogoo t/a group and Women in Agriculture Kodieny (Gwako) ministries (2014) eKLR.
D. Determination
8. The petition here was filed on 20. 9.2013 and a certificate of urgency application dated 19. 9.2013 filed alongside it seeking for interim orders which were granted on 23. 9.2013.
9. The petition was opposed by the 7th and 8th respondents through grounds of opposition dated 22. 5.2015.
10. On 3. 10. 2013 interim orders were extended and directions given for parties to file replies by 5. 12. 2013. It appears there was no action until 29. 6.2015. Eventually on 24. 1.2018 a notice to show cause was issue for 13. 3.2018.
11. On 13. 3.2018 the court dismissed the petition for non-compliance with its directions of 28. 6.2015 and for non-prosecution.
12. Looking at the court record the petitioner came to court and obtained interim orders in 2013 and took no action to prosecute the petition up to 2018, despite clear court directives in 2015.
13. Similarly between 2018 and 2021 there only explanation for the delay given that there was non-communication with the counsel previously on record and or was given misleading information that the matter was yet to be allocated a date.
14. The court record is clear that the petitioner’s lawyers were always present between 2013 and 2018. The petitioner was always absent in court. The petitioner has not stated when he last visited his lawyer’s offices then on record between 2013 and 2018. If indeed the petitioner was diligent enough between 2013 and 2017 and was following up his matter, he would have known its progress.
15. The case belongs to the petitioner and not his lawyers then on record. The petitioner has also not disclosed what else he did after obtaining the interim orders so as to set down the hearing of his petition particularly being aware he had stopped a statutory process of land adjudication.
16. The respondents have opposed the application on the basis that it was now overtaken by events since title deeds have been issued in favor of 2 – 6th respondents. The 1st respondent has also passed on.
17. In Nileh Preunchand Mulji Shah and another T/A Ketan Emporium vs M.D Papat and others and another (2016) eKLRthe court held inaction of nearly five years was an indication of lack of interest and was prejudicial to defendant.
18. In this case there has been inordinate delay in seeking for the setting aside. Title deeds have also been issued due to the delay and inaction. It will therefore be prejudicial and unjust to the respondents to reinstate the petition in the obtaining circumstances as held in John Nahashon Mwangi vs Kenya Finance Bank Ltd (in Lianslord) (2018) eKLR and Patrobas Awino vs Directors of Public prosecution and another (2021) eKLR.
19. The upshot is the application dated 2. 8.2021 lacks merits. The same is dismissed with costs.
Orders accordingly.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS/OPEN COURT AT MERUTHIS 6TH OF APRIL, 2022
In presence of:
Mutuma for respondents
Miss Kiyuki holding brief for Kithinji for applicant
HON. C.K. NZILI
ELC JUDGE