Catherine K. Ondato & Henrico Naloo Ouma v Leonard W. Obimbira [2015] KEHC 4259 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUSIA.

ELC. NO. 217 OF 2014.

CATHERINE K. ONDATO ]…………...……………………………1ST PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT

HENRICO NALOO OUMA ]………………………………………2ND PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT

=VERSUS=

LEONARD W. OBIMBIRA……………………………………… DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

R U L I N G.

1.  CATHERINE K. ONDATO and HENRICO NALUO OUMA, hereinafter referred to as   1st and 2nd Applicants respectively,  filed the notice  of motion dated  25th May, 2015seeking for injunction against  Leonard  W. Obimbira, hereinafter referred to as the      Respondent, in respect of land parcels Bunyala/Bulemia/2622 and 2623 pending   hearing and determination of this suit.  The application  is based on four grounds  marked (a)  to (d)  on its face and the undated supporting affidavit  sworn by the 2nd Applicant.

2  The application  is opposed by the Respondent through  the replying  affidavit  sworn on 29th May, 2015.

3. The application came  up for hearing  on 3rd June, 2015  and M/S. Omar and Mr.  Jumba advocates  for the Applicants’  and Respondent’s  respectively  presented  their rival submissions.

4. The court has considered  the grounds on the application, submissions by counsel, contents  of supporting and replying affidavits plus their annextures and come to the    following findings.

That though  the Applicants prays for injunction in respect  of parcels  Bunyala/Bulemia/2622  and 2623, the  copy of the certificate  of official  search dated  16th December, 2014 for parcel Bunyala/Bulemia/2623 shows  that the title was closed on 10th February, 2014 upon the land being  subdivided into parcels 4106 and 4107. Before the register for Bunyala/Bulemia/2623 was closed, it  was registered  in the joint names  of Henrico Naluo Ouma (2nd  Applicant), Hillary Juma Ouma, Pantaleo Ouma, Ojiambo Ouma and Juma  Stephen  Ouma. This suit was commenced  through the plaint dated 15th December, 2014 and filed in court on 16th December, 2014 which is about  ten months  after the title  for parcel Bunyala/Bulemia/2623 was closed.  By the  time this suit and the notice of motion  dated 25th May, 2015, were filed  the parcel of land described as  Bunyala/Bulemia/2623 did not exist. The court cannot  issue orders restraining the Respondent on a parcel of land that does not exist.  The  court was also not told  in whose names the two parcels subdivided from Bunyala/Bulemia/2623  are currently  registered and cannot  presume that they are  in the names of the Applicants  herein.  .

That the  copy of the title  deed for parcel Bunyala/Bulemia/2622 annexed  to the supporting  affidavit shows that  the land is registered in the names  of five persons, namely, Catherine  Khabiria Ondato [1st Applicant], Anne  Masimba Ondato, Lilian Otoro Ondato, Maureen Ogema and Cyril Muhanji Ondato.  Though  the Respondent  has not disputed  1st Applicant’s title to that  land, the  Applicants  have not disclosed  why the other four co-owners  of the land are not parties  to this application.

That the supporting  affidavit  does not  show that the deponent  had the authority of the 1st Applicant to make it.  As the deponent of the supporting affidavit is not one of  the registered  proprietors  of Bunyala/Bulemia/2622, the contents  of his affidavit cannot be sufficient  grounds for issuance of injunctive orders against that  the Respondent  over  that parcel of land.

That there is no materials  presented before this court to show that the Respondent  has been or has threatened to enter  land parcel Bunyala/Bulemia/2622 and  destroy the boundary, crops, trees or maim or kill livestock  thereon or sell the suit land, which is registered  in the names of 1st Applicant and the four others.  There is also  no specific  materials presented to this court  to show that the alleged construction was on that land.  The orders sought cannot  therefore be issued.

5. That having found as  in 4  above,  I find  that the Applicants have failed to    establish  any of  the  grounds  set out in Giella –v- Cassman  Brown case  which   are  precondition  to the issuance  of injunction  orders.  The application dated 25th May,    2015  is without merit and is dismissed with costs.

It is so ordered.

S.M. KIBUNJA,

JUDGE.

DATED AND DELIVERED ON ……30TH …………….DAY OF   JUNE, 2015

IN THE PRESENCE OF;

1ST PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT………PRESENT………………………………………………..

2ND PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT………ABSENT………………………………………………

DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT………ABSENT……………………………………………..

COUNSEL…MR. MAKOKHA FOR SIGANGA FOR APPLICANT  AND MR. JUMBA FOR RESPONDENT.

JUDGE.