Giciri Thuo, Wanjiku Mungai, John Kariuki Kimani, Peter Ng’ang’a Njonjo, Annah Wanjiku Ngugi & Mercy Wambui Njuru v National Land Commission, Mama Ngina University College Kenyatta University, Ministry of Education & Commission for University Education; Kenya Human Rights Commission & Dorcas Wairimu Kamau & 154 others (Intended Interested Parties) [2022] KEELC 1893 (KLR)

THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT

AT THIKA

ELC PETITION NO E010 OF 2021

GICIRI THUO................................................................................................1ST PETITIONER

WANJIKU MUNGAI................................................................................... 2ND PETITIONER

JOHN KARIUKI KIMANI..........................................................................3RD PETITIONER

PETER NG’ANG’A NJONJO..................................................................... 4TH PETITIONER

ANNAH WANJIKU NGUGI....................................................................... 5TH PETITIONER

MERCY WAMBUI NJURU.........................................................................6TH PETITIONER

-VERSUS -

NATIONAL LAND COMMISSION...........................................................1ST RESPONDENT

MAMA NGINA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE..............................................2ND RESPONDENT

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY........................................................................3RD RESPONDENT

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION...................................................................4TH RESPONDENT

COMMISSION FOR UNIVERSITY EDUCATION................................5TH RESPONDENT

KENYA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION........................................INTERESTED PARTY

DORCAS WAIRIMU KAMAU & 154 OTHERS.......INTENDED INTERESTED PARTIES

RULING

1. The court is seized of three interlocutory items: (i) the petitioners’ application for conservatory orders dated 25/11/2021; (ii) the intended interested parties’ application dated 23/1/2022; and (iii) the preliminary objection by the 2nd and 3rd respondents, dated 26/1/2022.  Parties are not able to agree on how the items should be disposed.  Counsel for the 2nd and 3rd respondents has urged that the preliminary objection be disposed first because it raises the question as to whether this court has jurisdiction to entertain this dispute or not.  All the other respondents in the petition concur with them on that view.  The petitioners hold a different positon, and contend that the preliminary objection should be considered alongside their application for conservatory relief.  The intended interested party is of the view that their application for joinder should be considered first.

2. I have considered the oral submissions of counsel on the issue.  Nyarangi JA in Owners of Motor Vessel ‘Lilian S’ v Caltex Oil (Kenya) Ltd (1989) 1 KLR articulated the procedure to be followed whenever a question of jurisdiction is raised.  Because jurisdiction is everything, a question of jurisdiction takes precedence over all other questions in a suit.

3. I therefore agree with counsel for the 2nd and 3rd respondents that the preliminary objection should be disposed first.  Secondly, were this court to consider the question of jurisdiction simultaneously with other questions and it turns out that the court does not have jurisdiction, the time, the energy and the resource spent by the court and by the parties  in disposing the other items will all stand wasted.

4. Consequently, I direct that the preliminary objection be disposed first.  It will be disposed through brief highlights of oral submissions in the virtual court on 9/2/2022 at 11. 00 a.m.  Parties shall file and exchange brief written submissions before then.

DATED,  SIGNED  AND  DELIVERED  VIRTUALLY  AT THIKA ON THIS 27TH DAY OF

JANUARY, 2022

B  M  EBOSO

JUDGE

In the Presence of: -

Mr Malenya for the Petitioners

Mr Njoroge Regeru and Mr Thuo for the 2nd  and 3rd Respondent

Ms Masinde for the 1st Respondent

Mr Fatma for the 4th and 5th Respondents

Ms Kubai for the intended interested parties

Court Assistant:  Phyllis Mwangi