Environment & Land Case 190 of 2015

Case Metadata
Case Number:	Environment & Land Case 190 of 2015
Parties:	Komen & 18 others v Lorho Properties Limited & 8 others
Date Delivered:	21 Sep 2023
Case Class:
Court:	Environment and Land Court at Eldoret
Case Action:	Ruling
Judge(s):	Elija Ogoti Obaga
Citation:	Komen & 18 others v Lorho Properties Limited & 8 others (Environment & Land Case 190 of 2015) [2023] KEELC 19935 (KLR) (21 September 2023) (Ruling)
Advocates:	Rotich for Mr. Njuguna for 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants
Court Division:	Environment and Land
County:	Uasin Gishu
Advocates:	Rotich for Mr. Njuguna for 3rd, 4th and 5th Defendants
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

Komen & 18 others v Lorho Properties Limited & 8 others (Environment & Land Case 190 of 2015) [2023] KEELC 19935 (KLR) (21 September 2023) (Ruling)

Neutral citation: [2023] KEELC 19935 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the Environment and Land Court at Eldoret

Environment & Land Case 190 of 2015

EO Obaga, J

September 21, 2023

Between

Christopher Kiplagat Komen

1^st Plaintiff

Philip Kipchirchir Kimaiyo

2^nd Plaintiff

Wilfred Kipkosgei Chepsiror

3^rd Plaintiff

Daniel Kakusha Kimutai

4^th Plaintiff

Mary Nanjala Kayanda

5^th Plaintiff

Lena Jemesunde

6^th Plaintiff

Rael Jemeli Rop

7^th Plaintiff

Betty Jelagat

8^th Plaintiff

Nicholas Kipchirchir Rotich

9^th Plaintiff

Hilda Cheruto

10^th Plaintiff

John Kiplagat Koskei

11^th Plaintiff

Gladyce Jepngetich Cheruiyot

12^th Plaintiff

John Kipkoech Ego

13^th Plaintiff

Jane Cherutich Tanui

14^th Plaintiff

Lucy Jepkoech Mwei

15^th Plaintiff

Ann Jesang Koech

16^th Plaintiff

Ruth Jepkemei Amwayi

17^th Plaintiff

Rosemary Chelimo Maiyo

18^th Plaintiff

Stephen Kurgat Kosgei

19^th Plaintiff

and

Lorho Properties Limited

1^st Defendant

Lonrho Agribusiness East Africa Limited

2^nd Defendant

Elisha Chumo

3^rd Defendant

David Rono

4^th Defendant

Joseph Metto (T/A Chepkatet Self Help Group)

5^th Defendant

Josia K Magut

6^th Defendant

Christopher K Sumbaei

7^th Defendant

David Chepsiror

8^th Defendant

The Land Registrar, Uasin Gishu County

9^th Defendant

Ruling

Introduction;

1.This is a ruling in respect of a Notice of motion dated April 28, 2023 in which the Plaintiffs/Applicants seek the following orders:-1.Spent2.That the application dated December 14, 2022 dismissed for non-attendance be reinstated and be heard on merits.3.That costs be provided for.

Background;

2.The Applicants had filed a suit against the Defendants/Respondents in which they sought among other prayers stay of execution of the decree in Eldoret CMCC No 516 of 2005 and to stop their eviction from LR No Pioneer/Ngeria Block 1 (EATEC) 7081.

3.The 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th Defendants/Respondents filed a notice of motion dated August 25, 2021 in which they sought to have the Applicant’s’ suit dismissed for being an abuse of the process of court and for being res-judicata. The application was fully heard and the Applicants’ suit was struck out for being an abuse of the process of court and for being res-judicata vide ruling of November 3, 2022.

4.On December 14, 2022, the Applicants filed a notice of motion in which they sought review and setting aside of the ruling of November 3, 2022. When this application came up for hearing on March 8, 2023, the Advocate for the Applicants did not attend court virtually. The application was dismissed for non-attendance. It is the dismissal of the application dated December 14, 2022 which prompted the Applicants to file the present application.

Applicant’s Contention;

5.The Applicants’ lawyer contends that on March 8, 2022 when the application dated December 14, 2022 came up for hearing, he tried to log into the court virtual hearing but was unable to do so due to technical challenges on his part. He sent his clerk to the registry to inquire on what happened but was informed that the application had been dismissed for non attendance.

6.The advocate states that his mistakes should not be visited upon his clients and that as this is a land matter, the same ought to be heard on merit.

3rd, 4th and 5th Respondents’ contention;

7.The Applicants’ application was opposed based on grounds of opposition filed on May 19, 2023. The Respondents contend that the Applicants’ application was brought two months after the dismissal of the application for review and that it was brought on a day the matter had been set down for taxation of party and party bill of costs. The Respondents further contend that the Applicants’ application is frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the process of court and that the Applicants have come to court with unclean hands.

Analysis and Determination;

8.The applicants’ counsel stated that he was not going to submit. The Respondents filed their submissions on July 6, 2022. I have carefully considered the applicants’ application as well as the opposition to the same by the Respondents. I have also considered the submissions by the Respondents. The only issue for determination is whether the Applicants have shown a case to warrant the exercise of the court’s discretion in their favour.

9.In as much as I have no doubt that Mr Miyienda had technical challenges, this is not the only consideration in seeking to exercise my discretion. Mr Miyienda has deponed that on March 8, 2023 when he was unable to log in, he sent his clerk to come to the registry to ascertain what happened to the application dated December 14, 2022. The clerk went to the registry and was informed that the Applicants’ application of December 14, 2022 had been dismissed with costs for non attendance.

10.The Applicants did not brother to file an application to set aside the dismissal order until after almost two months later. The application was filed on the day the matter was fixed for taxation of the party and party bill of costs.

11.I have looked at the application which was dismissed for non attendance. This application was seeking for review of the ruling of November 3, 2022. That application does not cite any of the grounds for review known in law. The Applicants have zeroed in on one ground; that is that the struck out suit was not res-judicata. This is a good ground for appeal but certainly not a ground for review. Even if the court were to set aside the dismissal order, the application dated December 14, 2022 will not see the light of the day. Litigation must come to an end. The main suit which was struck out was also seeking to stay execution of a judgement given in a different suit. It would not have also seen the light of the day even if it were not struck out.

Disposition;

12.From the above analysis, it is clear that the Applicants’ application is devoid of merit. The same is dismissed with costs to the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th Respondents.

It is so ordered.

DATED, SIGNED and DELIVERED at ELDORET on this 21^st day of SEPTEMBER, 2023.E. O. OBAGAJUDGEIn the virtual presence of;Rotich for Mr. Njuguna for 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th Defendants.Court Assistant -LabanE. O. OBAGAJUDGE21^ST SEPTEMBER, 2023