[2020] KEELC 1539 (KLR)

[2020] KEELC 1539 (KLR)

The court held that the National Land Commission (NLC) lacked jurisdiction to conduct review proceedings over the suit properties because the dispute was between private parties over private land, not public land or the process of conversion from public to private land. The NLC's statutory mandate under Section 14...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2020] KEELC 1539 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: William Kibera Waiganjo (Suing as the legal representative and guardian of Leah Wachu Waiganjo); Respondent: National Land Commission; Interested Party: Njeri Muchangiru
Court
Environment and Land Court
Court Station
Environment and Land Court at Thika
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Judicial Review 5 of 2017
Procedural Posture
Judicial Review Application / Judgment
Outcome
Application allowed. Judicial review orders of prohibition and certiorari granted. Notice of Preliminary Objection dismissed. Costs awarded to applicant.
Legal Topics
Judicial Review, Jurisdiction of Statutory Bodies, Public Vs Private Land, Land Title Disputes, Natural Justice, Powers of National Land Commission
Source Language
en
Land and Property Administrative Law Judicial Review Jurisdiction of Statutory Bodies Public Vs Private Land Land Title Disputes Natural Justice Powers of National Land Commission

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

William Kibera Waiganjo (Suing as the legal representative and guardian of Leah Wachu Waiganjo)

Applicant

National Land Commission

Respondent

Njeri Muchangiru

Interested Party

Procedural Posture

Judicial Review Application / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the National Land Commission had jurisdiction to conduct review proceedings over the suit properties which are alleged to be private land.
  2. 2 Whether the Notice of Preliminary Objection by the Interested Party seeking a stay of proceedings under section 6 of the Civil Procedure Act was merited.
  3. 3 Whether the applicant met the threshold for the grant of judicial review orders of certiorari and prohibition against the National Land Commission.

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that the National Land Commission (NLC) lacked jurisdiction to conduct review proceedings over the suit properties because the dispute was between private parties over private land, not public land or the process of conversion from public to private land. The NLC's statutory mandate under Section 14 of the National Land Commission Act is limited to reviewing grants and dispositions of public land, including the process of conversion to private ownership, but does not extend to disputes solely between private individuals regarding private land. The applicant's submission to the NLC's jurisdiction did not confer jurisdiction upon the NLC, as jurisdiction is a matter of law...

Court Disposition

Application allowed. Judicial review orders of prohibition and certiorari granted. Notice of Preliminary Objection dismissed. Costs awarded to applicant.

Orders

  • An order of prohibition is issued forbidding the National Land Commission from conducting any hearing or review over the complaint regarding L.R Nos Ruiru/Ruiru East Block 2/97 & 98.
  • An order of certiorari is issued quashing the decision by the National Land Commission to issue a notice and conduct a review and hearing in respect of L.R Nos Ruiru/Ruiru East Block 2/97 & 98.