Francis Kamau Kangethe, Peter Muriithi Kungu, Samuel Kariuki Mwaura, Joseph Muigai Kamau, Peter Njuguna Chomba,Patrick Kariuki Mwangi,Newton Mukora, Mary Karuga t/a New, Mioro General Store & Bibian Njeri Chege v Makenagira Farmers Trading Company Limited [2016] KEHC 5351 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT NAIROBI

CIVIL   APPEAL NO.  551 OF 2012

FRANCIS KAMAU KANGETHE………………………….........…..APPELLANT

PETER MURIITHI KUNGU…………………………………............APPELLANT

SAMUEL KARIUKI MWAURA…………………………...….....…..APPELLANT

JOSEPH MUIGAI KAMAU………………………………..........…..APPELLANT

PETER NJUGUNA CHOMBA…………………………….....….…..APPELLANT

PATRICK KARIUKI MWANGI………………………….…......……..APPELLANT

NEWTON MUKORA………………………………….......................APPELLANT

MARY KARUGA T/A NEW………………………………........….....APPELLANT

MIORO GENERAL STORE………………………….........…..……..APPELLANT

BIBIAN NJERI CHEGE………………………………..................…..APPELLANT

VERSUS

MAKENAGIRA  FARMERS TRADING COMPANY  LIMITED……RESPONDENT

RULING

This matter  (appeal  was before me  on 7th December  2015  when I directed  the Business Premises Rent Tribunal  to avail the Tribunal’s original  records  to facilitate  the  preparation and hearing of this appeal.  On 17th December  2015 the  Executive Officer of Business premises Rent Tribunal Ms Jane Karoko appeared  in court  and availed the  two original record   of the tribunal and the court directed that  the appellant’s advocate to prepare  the record of appeal and serve within 60 days, with leave to photocopy exhibits produced before the tribunal.  I can however see a letter of complaint addressed to the Deputy  Registrar.  It is  dated 13th April  2016 and  written by Njeri R. Ngari  & Company Advocates  for the appellants contending that the registry staff  have been indifferent  and  unwilling  to avail the file to the advocates to facilitate  the photocopying of exhibits  to enable  them prepare  a record of  appeal.  The record  of appeal is thus  not  yet prepared  and filed  as directed.

The above notwithstanding, the law as from 15th December  2015 regarding the hearing  of appeals from the Business Premises Rent Tribunal  has since  changed in that Parliament  did enact  the Statute Law  Miscellaneous  Amendment Act,  No. 25 of  2015  thereby amending the provisions  of Sections 15 and 16(2) of the Landlord and Tenant (Shops, Hotels and Catering Establishments) Act  Cap 301  Laws of Kenya, by deleting the word ”High Court” whenever it appears in the  Act and substituting therefor with the words  “ Environment and Land Court. “

What that means  is  that from 15th December 2015, the High Court’s jurisdiction to hear and  determine appeals from the Business Premises Rent Tribunal  has been divested  and vested in the Environment and Land Court.

Although this appeal was filed in the transitional period, the amendments  to the Act have the effect of removing  this matter from this court, and  vesting it  in the Environment and Land Court as  provided for in Section 13(1) of the Environment and Land Court Act 2011, making it a dispute  relating  to occupation of land.

Accordingly, without jurisdiction, this  court can do no more thing than down its tools and direct that this matter be and is hereby placed before the Environment and Land Court for further  directions as to its  disposal.

Orders accordingly .

R.E. ABURILI

JUDGE

19. 4.2016