REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT THIKA
CIVIL CAE NUMBER E004 OF 2023
JULIAH MURUGI NJOROGE……………………………………. PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
BALASI DEVELOPERS LIMITED…………………………1ST DEFENDANT
MARTIN MURU MWANGI……………………….………..2ND DEFENDANT
JAMES KAGOI MWIRI…………………………………….3RD DEFENDANT
AND
LAND REGISTRAR, GATUNDU……………………INTERESTED PARTY
RULING
By a notice of preliminary objection dated 6-12-2023, the 3rd defendant objected to the jurisdiction of this court over this matter. The ground for the objection was that this court lacked jurisdiction in view of Article 162(2) of the Constitution and Section 13 of the Environment and Land Court Act 2011.
On 18-12-2023, the court gave directions that the preliminary objection be disposed of by way of written submissions. The 3rd defendant filed his submissions dated 19-02-2024. The plaintiff filed an affidavit dated 13-01-2024 in reply to the preliminary objection. When the matter came before me on 5-06-2024, the plaintiff had not filed her submissions. Her counsel made an application for adjournment and requested for a mention date on grounds that the parties were negotiating and the matter had gone for arbitration and an award issued on 4-06-2024. There was no evidence of any negotiations or an award as submitted by the counsel. In the circumstances and with concurrence of the counsel present, I reserved this matter for ruling.
I have looked at the pleadings in this case. Parties are bound by their pleadings which form the basis of their claim before the court. The plaint in this matter is clear that the cause of action herein relates to purchase of a three bedroomed house number 14 which was to be built on LR number Ngenda/Kimuyu/2492 which the plaintiff claims to have bought but it was registered to the 1st defendant.
Article 162(2)(b) of the Constitution directed Parliament to establish specialized court to hear and determined disputes relating to environment and use, occupation of, and title to land. In compliance with this Article, the Parliament enacted Environment and Land Court Act, 2011 which created a court with exclusive jurisdiction over matters as provided in the said Article.
It is clear to me that this matter falls under the boundaries of that Article and Section 13 of the Environment and Land Court Act, 2011. It should have been filed in the Environment and Land Court. It is my finding that this court lacks jurisdiction to handle the matter. I uphold the preliminary objection dated 6-12-2023.
Consequently, this suit is hereby struck out with costs to the 3rd defendant.
Dated signed and delivered at Nairobi this 22nd day of July 2024.
B.M. MUSYOKI
JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT.