Case Metadata |
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Case Number: | Environment and Land Case 109 of 2015 (OS) |
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Parties: | Erastus Kiama Gichuki & David Ngunjiri Mureithi(Suing as the Registered Trustees of the United Members Social Club) v John Maregwa, James Nderitu Mukundi, Stanley Kinyua Gakure , Stephen Gichuki Githaiga, Peter Mwangi Mutuya, Joseph Nganga Kamenju, Haron Mwangi, John Mwanzia, Mama Wamuyu & Njeri |
Date Delivered: | 01 Apr 2019 |
Case Class: | Civil |
Court: | Environment and Land Court at Nyeri |
Case Action: | Judgment |
Judge(s): | Lucy Waithaka |
Citation: | Erastus Kiama Gichuki & another v John Maregwa & 9 others [2019] eKLR |
Advocates: | Mr. Nderitu h/b for Mr. Ndichu for the defendants |
Court Division: | Environment and Land |
County: | Nyeri |
Advocates: | Mr. Nderitu h/b for Mr. Ndichu for the defendants |
History Advocates: | One party or some parties represented |
Case Outcome: | Suit allowed |
Disclaimer: | The information contained in the above segment is not part of the judicial opinion delivered by the Court. The metadata has been prepared by Kenya Law as a guide in understanding the subject of the judicial opinion. Kenya Law makes no warranties as to the comprehensiveness or accuracy of the information |
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT
AT NYERI
ELC NO. 109 OF 2015 (OS)
IN THE MATTER OF ORDER 37 RULES 1, 2 AND 7 OF THE CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES
AND
IN THE MATTER OF TRESPASS TO LAND
AND
IN THE MATTER OF NYERI/MUNICIPALITY BLOCK II/99
ERASTUS KIAMA GICHUKI....................................1ST PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT
DAVID NGUNJIRI MUREITHI................2NDPLAINTIFF/APPLICANT (Suing as
THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE UNITED MEMBERS SOCIAL CLUB)
-VERSUS-
JOHN MAREGWA .............................................1ST DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
JAMES NDERITU MUKUNDI.........................2ND DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
STANLEY KINYUA GAKURE.........................3RD DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
STEPHEN GICHUKI GITHAIGA....................4TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
PETER MWANGI MUTUYA.............................5TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
JOSEPH NGANGA KAMENJU........................6TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
HARON MWANGI..............................................7TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
JOHN MWANZIA................................................8TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
MAMA WAMUYU...............................................9TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
NJERI ..................................................................10TH DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT
1. The plaintiffs herein took up the summons dated 2nd April, 2015 and amended on 3rd November, 2016 for determination of the following questions;
i. Whether the defendants have any registrable interest in the parcel of land known as LR No. Nyeri/Municipality/Block 111/99 (the suit property)?
ii. Whether the defendants are trespassers in the suit property;
iii. Whether or not the defendants should be forcefully evicted from the suit property.
iv. Whether the defendants should be condemned to pay the costs of these proceedings.
2. The suit/application is supported by the affidavit of the chairman of the plaintiff/applicant, Erastus Kiama Gichuki, where it is deposed that the deponent has the authority of the other members of the United Members Social Club (the Club) to present this suit; that the suit property belongs to the Club and that the defendants invaded the suit property sometime in 2011 and erected make shift sheds for selling second hand goods, groceries and for car-wash.
3. Lamenting that attempts to evict the defendants from the suit property have been in vain, the plaintiffs urge the court to issue eviction orders against the defendants.
4. Despite having been served with summons to enter appearance, the defendants did not file a statement of defence within the time stipulated in law and at all. As a result, on application by the plaintiffs, interlocutory judgment was entered against them on 17th July, 2015 and the matter set down for formal proof.
5. When the matter came up for formal proof, Erastus Kiama Gichuki (P.W.1) informed the court that he is one of the registered trustees of the club herein, that they (he and other officials of the Club) brought this suit in their capacity as the registered trustees of the Club. He reiterated that the defendants have trespassed into the suit property and urged the court to issue the orders sought against them.
Analysis and determination
6. Upon being served with summons to enter appearance, the defendants filed a memorandum of appearance on 27th April, 2015 but neither filed a statement of defence nor attended court when the matter was called for hearing.
7. The evidence adduced in this suit to wit Certificate of lease and an eviction notice shows that the Club was issued with a Certificate of Lease in respect of the suit property on 29the October, 2014 and that the defendants were issued with an eviction notice by the plaintiffs.
8. Based on the uncontroverted evidence of the plaintiffs to the effect that the suit property belongs to the Club; that the plaintiffs are the trustees of the club and that the defendants have unlawfully invaded the suit property and erected unlawful structures therein, I find and hold that the plaintiffs’ have made up a case for the following determinations, which determinations I hereby make: -
i. That the defendants have no registrable interest in the suit property as the same belongs to the Club herein;
ii. That the defendants are trespassers in the suit property;
iii. That the defendants should be forcefully evicted from the suit property; and
iv. That the defendants should be condemned to pay the costs of these proceedings.
9. Cognizant of the fact that the defendants may require time to relocate from the suit property, I stay the execution of the order of eviction for thirty (30) days from the date of delivery of this judgment to give the defendants time to voluntarily move out of the suit property. If at the expiry of the time herein intimated the defendants shall not have voluntarily moved out of the suit property, then it shall be lawful for the plaintiffs to forcefully evict the defendants from the suit property.
10. Orders accordingly.
Dated, signed and delivered in open court at Nyeri this 1st day April of 2019.
L N WAITHAKA
JUDGE
Coram:
N/A for the plaintiff
Mr. Nderitu h/b for Mr. Ndichu for the defendants
Court assistant - Esther