[2025] KEELC 5326 (KLR)

[2025] KEELC 5326 (KLR)

The court found that the suit property, L.R. No. 6455/1, was a leasehold that expired in 2008, after which it reverted to the Government of Kenya and became public land. The Plaintiffs' claim for adverse possession was unsustainable because Section 41 of the Limitation of Actions Act prohibits adverse possession...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2025] KEELC 5326 (KLR)
Parties
Plaintiff: Martin Shikuku Wamalwa; Plaintiff: Kiprono Chepkwony Korir; Plaintiff: Bernad Wamalwa Wekesa; Plaintiff: Abraham Malesi Wediba; Plaintiff: Jessica Murunga Ode; Plaintiff: Daniel Korir; Plaintiff: Esther Nakhumicha Simiyu; Plaintiff: Margaret Khakaja Simiyu; Plaintiff: Margaret Khisa; Plaintiff: Irene Nekesa; Plaintiff: Philip Kemboi; Plaintiff: Peter Boxter Munialo; Defendant: Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa - Soy (Registered Trustees); Defendant: Simon Obayo; Defendant: National Land Commission; Defendant: Attorney General; Defendant: County Land Surveyor, Uasin Gishu County; Defendant: County Land Registrar, Uasin Gishu County
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Eldoret
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Enviromental and Land Originating Summons 14 of 2014
Procedural Posture
Environmental and Land Originating Summons / Judgment
Outcome
suit dismissed with costs to defendants
Judges
EM Washe
Legal Topics
Adverse Possession, Public Land Allocation, Limitation of Actions, Title Registration, Land Disputes, Costs Award
Source Language
en
Land and Property Civil Procedure Adverse Possession Public Land Allocation Limitation of Actions Title Registration Land Disputes Costs Award

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Parties

Martin Shikuku Wamalwa

Plaintiff

Kiprono Chepkwony Korir

Plaintiff

Bernad Wamalwa Wekesa

Plaintiff

Abraham Malesi Wediba

Plaintiff

Jessica Murunga Ode

Plaintiff

Daniel Korir

Plaintiff

Esther Nakhumicha Simiyu

Plaintiff

Margaret Khakaja Simiyu

Plaintiff

Margaret Khisa

Plaintiff

Irene Nekesa

Plaintiff

Philip Kemboi

Plaintiff

Peter Boxter Munialo

Plaintiff

Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa - Soy (Registered Trustees)

Defendant

Simon Obayo

Defendant

National Land Commission

Defendant

Attorney General

Defendant

County Land Surveyor, Uasin Gishu County

Defendant

County Land Registrar, Uasin Gishu County

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Environmental and Land Originating Summons / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the Plaintiffs have been in occupation of L.R. No. 6455/1 (Soy) for more than 12 years without interruption and thus acquired title by adverse possession.
  2. 2 Whether the 1st Defendant's title has been extinguished by operation of law.
  3. 3 Whether the Plaintiffs should be registered as proprietors of the suit property.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the suit property, L.R. No. 6455/1, was a leasehold that expired in 2008, after which it reverted to the Government of Kenya and became public land. The Plaintiffs' claim for adverse possession was unsustainable because Section 41 of the Limitation of Actions Act prohibits adverse possession claims over public land. The court further determined that the property registered in the 1st Defendant's name (LR. No. Soy/Soy Block 10 (Navillus)/2182) was created from a different parcel (LR. No. 6455/2), not the suit property claimed by the Plaintiffs. There was no legal or factual basis to nullify the 1st Defendant's title or to direct the National Land Commission to allocate...

Court Disposition

suit dismissed with costs to defendants

Orders

  • The amended Originating Summons dated 25th March 2023 and converted to a Plaint on 2nd July 2024 is hereby dismissed.
  • The Plaintiffs jointly and severally shall pay the costs of this proceeding to the Defendants.