Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission v Sigu & another [2025] KEELC 2893 (KLR)

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission v Sigu & another (Environment & Land Case E092 of 2024) [2025] KEELC 2893 (KLR) (26 March 2025) (Ruling)

Neutral citation: [2025] KEELC 2893 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the Environment and Land Court at Machakos

Environment & Land Case E092 of 2024

NA Matheka, J

March 26, 2025

Between

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission

Plaintiff

and

Joel Aduma Sigu

1st Defendant

Fedson N. Orare

2nd Defendant

Ruling

1. The first application is dated 12th November 2024 and is brought under Order 2 Rule 15, Order 51 Rule 1 and 13 of the Civil Procedure Rules seeking the following orders;1. That the Honourable Court be pleased to strike out the Plaintiff's suit with costs to the 1st Defendant/Applicant for being an abuse of the court process.2. That the costs of this Application be provided for.

2. It is based on the following the grounds that on or about 19th June 1998 the 1st Defendant/Applicant was issued with a Letter of Allotment Ref. No. 21658/ XIII over land described as UNS. Residential Plot No. A- Machakos by the then Commissioner of Lands. That contrary to the narrative taken by the Plaintiff/Respondent, the said Letter of Allotment did not indicate the time frame within which the 1st Defendant/Respondent would accept and make payment with regard to the offer. That on 6th December 2001 the 1st Defendant/Applicant accepted the offer and paid Kshs. 15,920 vide bankers’ cheque number 164946 to the Commissioner of Lands which amount was duly received and receipted. That the property was later surveyed wherein it was issued with number Machakos/Municipality Block 1/32 (Formerly LR No. 909/563) which was sub divided into several parcels of land which were allocated to third parties the 1st Defendant/Applicant being one of them. That the 1st Defendant/Respondent was allocated parcel known as Machakos Municipality Block 1/755 measuring 0. 045 Ha for a term of 99 years commencing 1st July 1998 at an annual rent of Kshs. 3,160 (revisable). That on 19th October 2018, the 1st Defendant/Applicant was issued with a lease for parcel of land known as Machakos Municipality Block 1/755 measuring 0. 0447 Ha for a term of 99 years commencing 1st July 1998 by the Chief Land Registrar. That the duly signed and stamped lease document was sent by the Chief Land Registrar to the District Land Registrar Machakos on 19th October, 2018 for registration purposes. That despite numerous visits by the 1st Defendant/Applicant to the Machakos Land Registry, the said lease has never been registered for reasons that no one explains to him. That the inaction by the District Land Registrar Machakos prompted the 1st Defendant/Applicant to file a suit Machakos ELC (OS) No. 31 of 2022 Joel Aduma Sigu vs. District Land Registrar Machakos & The Honourable Attorney General seeking the court to direct and compel the District Land Registrar Machakos to execute and issue title document (Lease) in respect of the suit property to the 1st Defendant/Applicant. That the current suit is an abuse of the court process simply because the issues the Plaintiff (Commission) has raised could have been well raised and ventilated in the Originating Summons filed by the 1st Defendant/ Respondent therefore the same ought to be struck out.

3. The Plaintiff/Respondent submitted that the suit is not an abuse of the court process as the 1st Defendant’s Originating Summons in Machakos ELC OS No. 31 of 2022 seeks orders to compel the Land Registrar to execute and issue a title document for the suit property whereas the Plaintiff/Respondent herein seeks to cancel the lease for Machakos Municipality Block 1/755 dated 18th December 2018 and to rectify the register accordingly.

4. This court has considered the application and submissions therein. Order 2 rule 15 of the Civil Procedure Rules which provides as follows:-“At any stage of the proceedings the court may order to be struck out or amended any pleading on the ground that—a)it discloses no reasonable cause of action or defence in law; orb)it is scandalous, frivolous or vexatious; orc)it may prejudice, embarrass or delay the fair trial of the action; ord)it is otherwise an abuse of the process of the court, and may order the suit to be stayed or dismissed or judgment to be entered accordingly, as the case may be. “

5. Order 2 Rule 15(2) of the Civil Procedure Rules provides that no evidence is admissible on an application under sub rule (1) (a) and therefore, it should be evident from the pleadings sought to be struck out that no reasonable cause of action has been disclosed without reference to further evidence. The court’s power to strike out pleadings therefore, is to be exercised sparingly and cautiously. In the case of D.T. Dobie & Company (Kenya) Ltd. vs. Muchina (1982)KLR 1 the court stated that;“No suit ought to be summarily dismissed unless it appears so hopeless that it plainly and obviously discloses no reasonable cause of action and is so weak as to be beyond redemption and incurable by amendment. If a suit shows a mere semblance of a cause of action, provided it can be injected with real life by amendment, it ought to be allowed to go forward for a court of justice ought not to act in darkness without the full facts of a case before it.”

6. The main principle to be considered in an application for striking out a pleading therefore is, whether triable issues have been raised. This application is based on the grounds that that the 1st Defendant/Respondent was allocated parcel known as Machakos Municipality Block 1/755 measuring 0. 045 Ha for a term of 99 years commencing 1st July 1998 at an annual rent of Kshs. 3,160 (revisable). That on 19th October 2018, the 1st Defendant/Applicant was issued with a lease for parcel of land known as Machakos Municipality Block 1/755 measuring 0. 0447 Ha for a term of 99 years commencing 1st July 1998 by the Chief Land Registrar. That the duly signed and stamped lease document was sent by the Chief Land Registrar to the District Land Registrar Machakos on 19th October, 2018 for registration purposes. The Plaintiff/Respondent herein state that they seek to cancel the lease for Machakos Municipality Block 1/755 dated 18th December 2018 and to rectify the register accordingly. That their investigations established that on 19th June, 1998, in total disregard of the existing alienation and public user, the 1st Defendant was illegally and irregularly issued with a Letter of Allotment. I find that the plaintiffs have raised a prime facie case which should go to trial for adjudication. I find there are triable issues in this case and can only be determined once the matter goes to full trial. Judicial precedent has established that the jurisdiction to strike out any pleadings or suit is one to be exercised with utmost caution and sparingly. I find that the application is not merited and I dismiss it. Costs to be in the cause.

7. The second application is dated 24th October 2024 and is brought under Section 1A, 1B, 3A; Order 40(1), 51(1) of the Civil Procedure Act and Rules seeking the following orders;1. The Application be certified as urgent and service thereof upon the Defendants/ Respondents be dispensed with in the first instance.2. That pending inter partes hearing and determination of this Application, the 1st Defendant/ Respondent himself, his agents, assigns, servants and/or employees, persons acting at his behest or any other person whosoever acting be restrained from alienating, selling; charging, leasing, further leasing, transferring, wasting, disposing or in any other manner whatsoever dealing with parcel of land known as Machakos Municipality Block 1/755. 3.That pending the hearing and determination of this suit, the 1st Defendant/ Respondent himself, his agents, assigns, servants and/or employees, persons acting at his behest or any other person whosoever acting be restrained from alienating, selling, charging, leasing, further leasing, transferring, wasting, disposing or in any other manner whatsoever dealing with parcel of land known as Machakos Municipality Block 1/755. 4.The costs of this Application be provided for.

8. It is premised on the Affidavit of Salad Wato Boru and on the grounds that the Plaintiff/Applicant (Commission) is mandated under Section 11(1) (j) of the EACC Act to institute and conduct proceedings in court for the recovery or protection of public property, or for the freeze or confiscation of proceeds of corruption or related to corruption, or the payment of compensation, or other punitive and disciplinary measures. Pursuant to Section 11(1)(d) and 13(2)(c) of the EACC Act, the Commission commenced investigations into allegations that Machakos Municipality Block 1/32 (Formerly LR 909/563) also known as ‘Ngei-Estate’ which was set aside for public purpose was fraudulently, illegally and or otherwise sub-divided and unlawfully and/ or irregularly allocated to private persons. Investigations carried out by the Commission have established that by a Part Development Plan (Approved Development Plan No. 39) of Department Reference 56/67/3, approved on 9th November 1967 by the then Commissioner of Land, a parcel of land was designated for development of Staff Rental Housing Scheme. In 1968, survey on the above stated parcel was carried out resulting into the creation of parcel of land known as L.R No. 909/563 measuring 4. 08 acres. The Commissioner of Lands was accordingly informed of the approval of the Survey by the Director of Survey vide a letter dated 22nd October 1968. On 22nd November 1973, the parcel known as L.R No. 909/563 was converted to Machakos Municipality Block 1/32. In 1970s, the National Housing Corporation built Twenty Four (24) staff housing on Machakos Municipality Block 1/32 (Formerly L.R No. 909/563) and the said housing units remains to date on the said parcel of land. On or around 1st August 2021, the National Housing Corporation handed over the management of the Twenty Four (24) staff housing units in Ngei Estate back to the County Government of Machakos. That Machakos Municipality Block 1/32 (Formerly L.R No. 909/563) and also known as ‘Ngei Estate’ is duly alienated public land and specifically reserved for public purpose namely, the construction of civil servants rental housing scheme and therefore the same was not available for alienation to any private individual or any other person.

9. Investigations by the Commission have established that Machakos Municipality Block 1/32 (Formerly L.R No. 909/563) was illegally subdivided into several parcels of land and illegally allocated to third parties. Machakos Municipality Block 1/755 (hereinafter “the suit property”) was among the parcels of land that was illegally, unlawfully and/or irregularly created following the illegal subdivision of Machakos Municipality Block 1/32 (Formerly L.R No. 909/563).

10. That on 18th December, 2018, the 1st Defendant was issued with a Lease for parcel of land known as Machakos Municipality Block 1/755 measuring 0. 0447 Hectares for a term of 99 years commencing on 1st July, 1993 at an annual rent of Kshs. 3,160 (revisable). The same was signed by the 2nd Defendant herein. The Commission has filed civil proceedings against the Defendants for the recovery of the suit property subject matter of this Application. The Commission has a prima facie case against the Defendants with a probability of success. That unless the orders sought are granted, the public shall suffer irreparable injury which would not adequately be compensated by an award of damages. That the suit properties being public property set aside for civil servants rental housing scheme, the balance of convenience tilts in favour of granting the orders sought by the Commission.

11. This court has considered the application, affidavits and submissions therein. The prayer for temporary injunction is well discussed in the celebrated case of Giella vs Cassman Brown (1973) EA 358. In Nguruman Limited vs Jan Bonde Nielsen & 2 others CA No.77 of 2012 (2014) eKLR the Court of Appeal held that;“in an interlocutory injunction application the Applicant has to satisfy the triple requirements to a, establishes his case only at a prima facie level, b, demonstrates irreparable injury if a temporary injunction is not granted and c, ally any doubts as to b, by showing that the balance of convenience is in his favour.These are the three pillars on which rest the foundation of any order of injunction interlocutory or permanent. It is established that all the above three conditions and states are to be applied as separate distinct and logical hurdles which the applicant is expected to surmount sequentially”.

12. On the first pillar, the 1st defendant states that he is the legally registered owners of all that land described as Machakos Municipality Block 1/755. Section 26 of the Land Registration Act states as follows;“(1)The certificate of title issued by the Registrar upon registration, or to a purchaser of land upon a transfer or transmission by the proprietor shall be taken by all courts as prima facie evidence that the person named as proprietor of the land is the absolute and indefeasible owner, subject to the encumbrances, easements, restrictions and conditions contained or endorsed in the certificate, and the title of that proprietor shall not be subject to challenge, except—a.on the ground of fraud or misrepresentation to which the person is proved to be a party; orb.where the certificate of title has been acquired illegally, unprocedurally or through a corrupt scheme.(2)A certified copy of any registered instrument, signed by the Registrar and sealed with the Seal of the Registrar, shall be received in evidence in the same manner as the original.”

13. On the 2nd pillar of temporary injunctions, the Applicant is required to show irreparable injury and I am guided by Pius Kipchirchir Kogo vs Frank Kimeli Tenai (2018) eKLR where court held;“Irreparable injury means that the injury must be one that cannot be adequately compensated for in damages and that the existence of a prima facie case is not itself sufficient. The Applicant should further show that irreparable injury will occur to him if the injunction is not granted and there is no other remedy open to him by which he will protect himself from the consequences of the apprehended injury.”

14. The Applicant states that after investigations they have established that on 19th June, 1998, in total disregard of the existing alienation and public user, the 1st Defendant was illegally and irregularly issued with a Letter of Allotment, Ref. No. 21658/XIII over land described as UNS. Residential Plot No. A - Machakos by unstated County. The said Letter of Allotment was accompanied with a Part Development Plan No. MKS. 56/97/27. Investigations by the Commission have established that Part Development Plan No. MKS. 56/97/27 did not have an Approved Development Plan Number and does not exist as per the records held at the Physical Planning Department. Investigations reveal that the 1st Defendant purportedly accepted the offer in the Letter of Allotment after 3 years, long after the offer had lapsed and there was nothing to accept and as such anything done pursuant thereto was null and void and incapable of conferring any interest or title.

15. The 3rd pillar which is the balance of convenience. In Pius Kipchirchir Kogo case (Supra) the court held;“The meaning of balance of convenience will favour of the Plaintiff' is that if an injunction is not granted and the Suit is ultimately decided in favour of the Plaintiffs, the inconvenience caused to the Plaintiff would be greater than that which would be caused to the Defendants if an injunction is granted but the suit is ultimately dismissed. Although it is called balance of convenience it is really the balance of inconvenience and it is for the Plaintiffs to show that the inconvenience caused to them will be greater than that which may be caused to the Defendants. Inconvenience be equal, it is the Plaintiff who will suffer.In other words, the Plaintiff has to show that the comparative mischief from the inconvenience which is likely to arise from withholding the injunction will be greater than that which is likely to arise from granting”.

16. The Applicant argues that the suit properties being public property set aside for civil servants rental housing scheme, the balance of convenience tilts in favour of granting the orders sought by the Commission. That the Commission is reasonably apprehensive that the 1st Defendant, his agents, assigns, servants, employees and assigns may dispose of, charge or any other manner alienate the suit properties in order to frustrate any decree or order that may be passed against them. It is therefore just, fit and in the public interest to prohibit the 1st Defendant, his agents, and/or servants from interfering with, alienating, wasting, transferring, charging or in any other way dealing with the suit property pending the hearing and determination of this Application and the main suit to obviate dissipation of the suit property and/or rendering these proceedings nugatory altogether. I find the balance of convenience falls in the favour of the Applicants. I find that the applicant has established a prima facie case. I find this application is merited and I grant the following orders;1. That pending the hearing and determination of this suit, the 1st Defendant/ Respondent himself, his agents, assigns, servants and/or employees, persons acting at his behest or any other person whosoever acting be restrained from alienating, selling, charging, leasing, further leasing, transferring, wasting, disposing or in any other manner whatsoever dealing with parcel of land known as Machakos Municipality Block 1/755. 2.The costs to be in the cause.It is so ordered.

DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT MACHAKOS THIS 26TH DAY OF MARCH 2025. N.A. MATHEKAJUDGE