Isacko Pius Malicha, Mary Luka Lemerelle & Peter Letiyon Leitoro v National Land Commission, Chief Land Registrar & Marsabit Pastors Fellowship [2019] KEELC 2988 (KLR) | Public Land Allocation | Esheria

Isacko Pius Malicha, Mary Luka Lemerelle & Peter Letiyon Leitoro v National Land Commission, Chief Land Registrar & Marsabit Pastors Fellowship [2019] KEELC 2988 (KLR)

Full Case Text

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT

AT MERU

JUDICIAL REVIEW APPLICATION NO. 27 OF 2017

ISACKO PIUS MALICHA...............................................................................1ST APPLICANT

MARY LUKA LEMERELLE..........................................................................2ND APPLICANT

PETER LETIYON LEITORO.........................................................................3RD APPLICANT

VERSUS

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

CHIEF LAND REGISTRAR........................................................................2ND RESPONDENT

MARSABIT PASTORS FELLOWSHIP.....................................................3RD RESPONDENT

JUDGMENT

A.  INTRODUCTION

1. The  applicant   filed  the  instant  application  dated 31st  August, 2017  and  filed  on  even date  seeking  the  following  orders:

i. An order  of   Certiorari  to bring  into  this  Honourable  Court  the  decision  of  the  commission  to revoke  the  title  of  the  suit  property,  land  reference  number  11969/214  and  quash  it.

ii.   An  order  of  Certiorari  to bring into  the  Honourable  Court  the  decision  of  the  Commission to investigate  the  title  for suit  property,  land  reference  number  11969/214.

iii. An order  of  Prohibition  prohibiting  the  Chief  Land Registrar  from  revoking  the  title  to   Land Reference  Number  11969/214.

iv.  The  Respondents  pay  the  costs  of  this  case  in  response  to  the  Application,  the  1st  Respondent  filed  their  grounds  of  opposition  dated  6th  March, 2018  and  filed  on  7th  March, 2018.

2.  The  3rd  Respondent  on their  part  filed  a  Replying  Affidavit  sworn  by  Joseph  Chiwe.  The  2nd  Respondent  did  not  file  a  response  and  neither  did  they   participate  in these  proceedings.

B.  BACKGROUND

THE APPLICANTS  CASE

3. The   Applicants in their  Notice of Motion  allege  that   the  3rdApplicant  is  the  registered owner  of the portion  of  land  known  as  Land  Reference  Number  11969/214 (the  suit  property) and  that  the  1st  and  2nd  Applicants  purchased  the  suit  property  from  the  3rd  Applicant,  who  purchased  the  property  from  one  Golawa Mirgicha  who  acquired  the  same  vide  a grant  from  the  defunct  County Council  of Marsabit.  The  1st  and  2nd  Applicants   allege  that  they  purchased  the  same  from  the  3rd  Applicant  for  value.  In support  of  this  assertion,  they  produced  the  copy  of  the  grant  and  the  Sale Agreement.  The  gist of the dispute  is  that  the  1st  Respondent  vide  gazette  notice  number 6862  directed  the  2nd Respondent  to  revoke  their  title  to  the  suit   property under Section  14 (5) of   the  National  Land  Commission  Act.

4.  The  Applicants  allege  that  the 1st  Respondents  conducted  the  hearing  of  the  complainant  filed  by  the  3rd  Respondent  relating  to the  suit  property  without  according  them  an  opportunity  to be  heard and   to  reasonably  prepare  for  their   case.   They allege  that  on  6th  April, 2017  when the matter  came  up  for  first  hearing,  they  sought  an adjournment  for  purposes  of  putting in  their  further  response  in  answer  to the  complainants further submissions/representations  before  the  1st  Respondents. However, they were denied an adjournment.

5.  In  addition,  they  allege  that  they  were  never  given  an  opportunity  to  cross-examine  the  witnesses  and  that  the  1st  Respondent  refused  to  supply  them  with  crucial  documents  produced  in the  matter  to enable them  effectively  present  their  case.

6. In  sum   the  Applicants  allege  that  the 1st  Respondent  acted  against  the rule  of  natural  justice  by  denying  them an  opportunity  to  reasonably   prepare  their  case  and  file  responses  in breach  of  Article  47 of  the  Constitution  and  the  Fair  Administrative  Action Act  No. 4  of  2012.

7.  Further,  the  applicants  argue that  the   1st  Respondents  lacked  the  jurisdiction  to  entertain  the  complaint  against  the  suit  property   title  in view  of  Section  14 (7)  of  the National  Land  Commission ,  as  the  suit  property title  had  been  transmitted  to  3rd  parties  who  had acquired  ownership  as  bonafide  purchasers  without  notice  of  any  alleged  defect  in  title.

8.  In support  of  their  case  the  applicants  have  attached  the  letter  dated 6th  April, 2017  addressed  to the  1st  Respondent  requesting  for  the  adjournment  of  the  matter  and  a  letter  dated  11th  April, 2017  equally  seeking  an  adjournment  of  the  hearing  of  the  matter.  In  addition,  the  applicant,  have  produced  title  to  the  suit  property  issued  on 1st  October, 1992  and Sale  Agreement  dated  23rd  April, 2011.

1ST RESPONDENT’S  CASE

9.  The  1st  Respondent  vide  their  grounds  of  opposition  opposed  the  application  arguing  that  the  purported  decision  brought  to  Court  by the Applicants is incapable  of  being  quashed  by  way  of  Certiorari.  In addition, they allege that  the  gazette notice  only  communicates  a decision  and  not  constitute  a  decision  capable  of  being  quashed.

10.  Further  they  allege  that  the  Fair Administration  Action  Act  allows  the  1st  Respondent  60 days upon  demand  to  produce  the  reasons  for  its   determination  as  published  in  the  gazette  notice  number 6862 dated  17th July, 2017  and  that  investigations  having been  concluded and determination  rendered,  there is  no investigations  to be  quashed  thus   the  prayers  sought by the applicants   are  overtaken  by  events.

11.  Further  they  allege  that  the  Applicants  were  given  adequate  notice  and  fair  hearing  thus  they  should  have  challenged  the 1st  Respondent  decision  on   merit  and  not  vide  a  Judicial  Review  Application.  In sum  the  1st  Respondent  argues  that  the  Applications  discloses   no  cause  of  action  and  ought  to be  dismissed  with  costs.

3RD RESPONDENT’S  CASE

12. Vide  affidavit  sworn by  Joseph  Chiwe on behalf of the  3rd  Respondents, they allege that they are members of Marsabit  Pastors  Fellowship  and  allege  that  the  genesis  of  this  suit  has been  an  attempt  by  the  Christian  Community  in Marsabit  to  recover  land  which  had been  set  aside  as  a  Christian  graveyard  but  allocated  to  private  individual in the  year  1992,  when  the suit property  was sub–divided  into  five  portion,  four  of  which were  distributed  to  private  individuals  and  that  the  suit  property  is  part  of  the  sub-division.

13. The  3rd  Respondent  allege  that  they  filed  a  complaint  with the  Marsabit  County  Land  Management   Board  on 1st March, 2015.   The  Board  conducted  a hearing  and   a site  visit  where  the  3rd  Applicant  participated  and  was  heard.   They allege  that  on  the  site  visit  the  Board  found a grave  on  the  edge of the  property.  Further they allege  that   the  Board  reached  a  finding  that the allocation was improper and  recommended  that  the  1st  Respondent  undertakes  an  independent  review  of  the grant  and  dispositions  on  the  graveyard.

14. The  3rd Respondent on 1st April, 2015  filed  a  complaint  with  the 1st  Respondent  for  review  of  the  suit  property  title,  and  that  as  result,  the  1st  Respondent  vide  a letter dated  6th   February, 2017  summoned  all  Interested  parties  including  the  3rd  Applicant  to  appear  before  it   on 9th  March, 2017  for  review  of  the  said  title  to  the  suit  property.

15.  On  9th  March, 2017  they  allege  that  the  3rd  Respondent  appeared  before  the  Commission,  when  Mr.  Nyamweya  for  the  Applicants  sought  an  adjournment  which   Adjournment  was  granted  and  parties  directed  to  file   written  submission  before  the  next  hearing  slated  for  6th  April, 2017.

16. Subsequently  on 21st  March, 2017  the  Applicants  wrote  to their  advocate  requesting  to  be  served  with the  complaints, which  complaint was  served  on  23rd  March  2017  and  that  on  4th  April, 207  they  filed  their  submission,  before  the   1st  Respondent  and  that  on  6th April, 2017  they attended  the  hearing  of  the matter.

17. It is their assertion that on  6th  April, 2017  during  the  date for the hearing,  the  Applicants  advocate  Mr. Nyamweya  sought  an adjournment,  however  the  same  was  denied   and  the matter  proceeded in the absence of  the Applicants, where  upon  conclusion  the  1st  Respondent  fixed  the  11th  April, 2017  for  hearing  of  the  Respondent’s   case.

18. The  3rd  Respondent  further  alleges  that  on  11th  April, 2017  the  1st  Respondent  Committee  lacked  quorum  and  the hearing was  adjourned  to the  20th  April, 2017  when the  Advocate  for  the Respondent  raised  an  objection  and  informed  the  Committee  that  he   had  filed  JR No. 188/2017  seeking  to stop  the  proceedings.

19. The  1st  Respondent  Committee  dismissed  the  Preliminary  Objection  and  directed  parties  to  proceed  to  hearing  the  following  day  or in the alternative  file  written  submissions,  by  26th  April, 2017.

20.  Furthermore, they allege that JR  No. 188/17  was  dismissed  because  the  Applicant  failed  to  comply  with  Court  timelines  and  that they  are  guilty  of  material  non-disclosure  as  they  did not  inform  the  Court  that  they  had  filed  a  similar  application  which  has  since  been  dismissed.

21.  In conclusion  the 3rd  Respondent  allege  that  the  Gazette   Notice  No. 6862  was  issued  by  the  1st  Respondent  after fully  hearing  the parties  and  urged  the  Court  to  affirm  the  1st  Respondent  decision  returning  the  grabbed  grave  yard.

22.  In support of their  case  the  3rd  Respondent  produced  the  Marsabit   County  Government Land Management  Report, summons  from  the  1st  Respondent  dated  6th  February, 2017,  Applicants   Advocates  letter  dated  21st March, 2017  and  a  letter  forwarding  the  complaint  dated  22nd  March, 2017,  the  Ruling  from   1st  Respondent  committee  dated 20th  April, 2017  and  the  Preliminary  Objection  dated  19th April, 2017.

SUBMISSIONS

APPLICANTS SUBMISSIONS

23.  The  Applicants  submitted  on two  issues,  first  on whether  the  1st  Respondent  had  jurisdiction  to deal  with  the  suit  property  title   and  secondly,  whether  the  Applicants  right  to  Fair  Administration  Action was  infringed.

24. On the First  issue  as to  whether  the  1st  Respondent  had  jurisdiction,  the  Applicants submitted  that they  lacked  the jurisdiction  to entertain  and adjudicate on the  complaint  pursuant  to Section 14 (7)  of  the  National Land  Commission  Act  number  5  of  2012  and  as  envisaged  under  Article  62(2)of  the  Constitution.

25. They  allege  that Section   5 and  6  of  the National  Land  Commission  Act  confines  the  powers  and  functions  of  the  1st  Respondent  to  Public  Land  only.  They  argue  that  Article  67 (2) of  the  Constitution  empowers  the  1st  Respondent  to initiate  investigations  on  its  own or  on a  complaint  and recommend  appropriate  redress,   however  they  allege  that  the 1st  Respondent  from  the pleading  was  not  expressing  its mandate  as  required.

26. Additionally,  they  allege  that  Section 14  of  the  National Land  Commission Act  gives  the  Respondent   the  jurisdiction  to enforce Article  68 (c) (r) of  the  Constitution  and  review  all grants  or  dispositions  of  Public  Land  to establish  their  property  or  legality  relying  on  the  case  of :  Republic  -Vs-  National  Land  Commission  & 4  Others  Ex-Parte,  Holborn  Company  Limited  &  Another.   They  argue  that  no  evidence  was  presented  before  the  1st  Respondent  rebutting  the  claim  that  the suit  land was  private  land.

27. Further they  argue  that  where   the initial  allottee  of  public  land   has  transferred  land  to a  bona fide  purchaser  for value  without notice  of  defect  in  the  title,  the  Registrar  does  not have  the  jurisdiction  to  revoke  such  title under Section 14 (7)  of  the  National  Land   Commission  Act.   In this   they rely  on the  case  of : Republic  -Vs-  National   Land  Commission  Ex-parte  Holborn Properties limited.

28. On  the  second  issue  of  whether  the  Applicants  right  of  Fair  Administrative  Action, they  reiterate  that  the   1st  Respondent  never  complied  with  the   rules of  natural  justice  and  that  they  never gave  them  an  opportunity  to be  heard  in accordance with the  Provisions  of  Article  47 of  the  Constitution.  They  rely  on  the Authorities  of  Sceneries  limited  -Vs-  National  Land  Commissionand  the  case  of  Republic -Vs- National Land  Commission  &  Tropical  Treasure  Limited,  Ex-parte  Krystalline  Salt  Limited.

29.  In sum  they argue  that  they were  denied  a fair  hearing  and  being  the  holders of  suit  property  with a title  not  challenged  by  evidence  of  fraud,  misrepresentation,  illegally,  un-procedural  and/or  corrupt  scheme, are  seeking   that  the  application  be allowed  with costs.

1ST RESPONDENT’S  SUBMISSIONS

30.  The 1st Respondent in their submissions addressed four issues.  The  first being  the   Jurisdiction  of  the  1st Respondent  to entertain  and  determine  the  dispute relating the suit property.   In this regard they argue that  they have  the  jurisdiction  to entertain  complaints  relating  to grants  or dispositions  of  public land.  This  they  argue  emanates  from Article  68 (C) (V)  of  the  Constitution  and  Section  14  of  the  National   Land  Commission  Act,  which  gives  them the  authority  to  direct  the  Registrar   to  revoke  title  and/or  take  appropriate  steps  to correct  the  irregularity and may also  make  consequential   orders.

31.  In answer to  the   Applicants’  allegation  that the suit  property  is  a  private  property  and  outside  the mandate  of  the 1st  Respondent,  they argue  that  their  mandate  covers  land that  is  in the   hands of  private  ownership  and  was  initially a public land.  In this they rely on the following authorities.  Republic  -Vs-  Land  Registrar  Mombasa  & 2 Others  Ex-Parte Bhangra  Limited [ 2012] e K.L.R,   Republic  -Vs- National  Land  Commission  & 2 Others   Ex-Parte  Airways  Holding Limited   (2015) e KLR,  Republic  -Vs-  National  Land  Commission  &  Another  Ex-parte  Muktar Saman  Olow  Miscellaneous  Appl. No. 376  of  2014  [2015],  Republic  -Vs-  National  Land  Commission  Ex-parte  Holborn  Properties  Limited [2016]  e KLR.

32.  The  Second  issue  advanced  by the  1st  Respondent  is  on whether  there  is  a  decision  of  the  1st  Respondent  before  Court  capable  of  being  quashed,  which  they  argue  that  there is  no  decision  before  the  Court  to be  quashed  as  envisaged  under  Order 53  Rule 7.   On this  they  rely on the  case  of:  Republic  -Vs-  Kenya  National  Highway  Authority & 7  Others,  Exparte Kenya Transporters Association & Others (2013].

33. The  Third  issue  advanced  by  the  1st  Respondent  is as to whether  the  applicants  are  bonafide  purchasers  for  value.  In this  regard  they argue that the applicants are not innocent purchasers  for  value  as  the suit  property  was allocated  as  a  public  cemetery  and  therefore   the  applicants  ought  to have  known.   In this, they rely on the case of:  Lawrence P.  Mukiri  Mungai, Attorney  of  Francis  Muroki  Mwauri  -Vs-   Attorney  General  &  4 Others  [2017] e K.L.R  on the definition of a  bonafide  purchaser.

34.  The  final  issue  submitted  on  by the  1st  respondent  is  on whether  the  applicant  was afforded  a  fair  hearing.  They argue that the applicants were awarded a reasonable opportunity to present their case, however they failed to do so.  They argue  that  when  the  matter came for  hearing  on  9th  March 2017, the  same  was  adjourned  at  the  behest  of  the  applicants  to  6th  April, 2017,  when again they sought another adjournment which  was denied.  Further  they allege  that  the Applicants  were directed  to file  written  submissions  but  they  never  complied.

35. They also  pointed  out that  since  the parties appeared  before  the  Marsabit   County  Land  Management  Board  and  both  made  extensive  presentation  on the  suit,   they  urge  the  Court  to find  that  the  1st  Respondent  availed all avenues  for  Applicants  and  all documents, but  the  Applicants  willfully  declined  to  appear  and  make  their  presentation.

36. In sum  they oppose  the  application  arguing  that  due  process  was  followed  and  the  application  be  dismissed  with costs.

3RD  RESPONDENT’S  SUBMISSIONS

37. The 3rd Respondent identified three issues.  The first  issue  is as  to whether  the  1st  Respondent  has  the  jurisdiction  to  review  title  in  private land.  In this  regard  they  argue  that the  1st  Respondent  has the  jurisdiction  to review  title of  private  land    pursuant  to the  provisions  of  Article  68  (c) of  the  Constitution  and  Section  14  of  the  National  Land  Commission  Act.  In  this,  they rely  on the  above  cited  decision  of   Ex-parte  Krystalline  Salt  limited  Ex-parte  Muktar  Saman Olow &  Ex-parte  Holborn  properties.

38. Additionally,  they  distinguish  the  Applicant  cited  authority  of Republic  -Vs-  National  Land  Commission  &  4 others  Ex-parte  Fulson  Company  limited  and  Another,  arguing  that  the  same  was  wrongly  decided  and  was not  followed  in Nicholas  Mwatika  Mulei  -Vs-  National Land  Commission   &  3 others  (2018).   They argue  that  the  1st  Respondent  indeed  has  the  jurisdiction  to  review  title  even  in  a  private  land.

39. The  second  issue  identified  by  the 3rd  Respondent is  whether  the  Applicants  are  bonafide  purchasers  and  argue that  the  Applicants  fail  to meet  the  test  for  bonafide   purchasers  as  set  out by  the  Court of  Appeal  in:  Samuel  Kamere   -Vs – Lands  Registrar,  Kajiado  Civil   Appeal No.  28  of  2005,  arguing  that  had  the Applicants  conducted due  diligence  before  acquisition, they  would  have  realized  that  the  suit  property  was  allotted  for   Christian  graveyard.

40.  The final issue  identified  by the  3rd  Respondent  is  whether  the  Applicants  were afforded  a  fair  hearing, and  they argue  that  the  Applicants  were afforded  several  opportunities  to be heard but  failed  to avail  themselves  of  the  opportunities.   In this  regard  they referred  to the  chronology  of  the dispute   from  the  first  hearing  slated for  9th  March, 2017  which  was  adjourned  at  the behest  of  the Applicant’s  counsel  Mr. Nyamweya  and  the  6th  April, 2017  hearing  where  Nyamweya  equally  sought  an adjournment  on  behalf  of  the  Applicant  which  was  denied for  the  reason  that  the  complainants witnesses  had  travelled  from  far.

41.  In  sum  they  argue  that  the  Applicants  were  afforded  an  opportunity  to be  heard  but  willfully  chose  not  to present  their  case.

A.  ISSUES   ARISING

1.  Whether   the 1st Respondent has the jurisdiction to Review private   land  title

2.  Whether the   Applicants   were afforded fair hearing.

3.  Whether the 1st and 2nd Applicants are innocent purchasers for value

a)  Whether   the 1st Respondent has the jurisdiction to Review private   land title

42. The applicants have submitted citing Article 67 of the Constitution and Section 14 (8) of the National Land Commission Act that the 1st Respondent lacks jurisdiction over the land in question, which they argue is a private land.  On their part, the 1st Respondent argues that it has the jurisdiction to hear the complaint under Article 67 (1) of the Constitutionand Section 14 of the National Land Commission Act, this position is equally supported by the 3rd Respondent.

43. The functions of the National Land Commission under Article 67 (2) (e) of the Constitution include (e) to initiate investigations, on its own initiative or on a complaint, into present or historical land injustices, and recommend appropriate redress.Article 61 (2) of the Constitution classifies land in Kenya as Public, Community or Private.

44. The import of the above is that the National Land Commission is empowered on its own motion or upon a complaint by the National or a County Government, a community or an individual to review all grants or disposition of public land to establish their propriety or legality subject to Article 68 (c) (v) of the Constitution.

45.  Section 14 of the National Land Commission Act provides that: -

“(1) Subject to Article 68 (c) (v) of the Constitution, the Commission shall, within five years of the commencement of this Act, on its own motion or upon a complaint by the National or a County Government, a community or an individual, review all grants or dispositions of public land to establish their propriety or legality”.

46.  According to Korir, J. in J.R 376 of 2014 - Muktar Saman Olow  Vs  National  Land Commission:

“Under section 14 of the National Land Commission Act, 2012 the Respondent is given jurisdiction to enforce Article 68(c)(v) of the Constitution and review all grants or dispositions of public land to establish their propriety or legality. In my view, the Respondent can only fulfil this mandate by probing the process under which public land was converted to private land. It would defeat the purpose of the Constitution to imagine that unlawfully and irregularly acquired land once registered as private property is no longer within the reach of the Respondent.”

47. The import of the applicants claim on this issue is that once a person is lawfully granted a leasehold tenure over public land, the land becomes private land, hence the Respondent lacks jurisdiction over the same.

48. It is therefore apparent from the forgoing cited provisions that for the 1st Respondent Jurisdiction to be invoked, the land must be public land within the above definition, or the land must have been public land that was converted to private land, thus if the land was originally public land which was converted to private land, then it falls within the Constitutional and statutory mandate of the National Land Commission.

49.  Mativo J. in Karaini Investments Vs National Land Commission & Another[2018] e KLR in this regard stated: -

“39. Under Section 14 of the Act the Respondent is given jurisdiction to enforce Article 68 (c (v) of the Constitution and review all grants or dispositions of public land to establish their propriety or legality.   In my view, the Respondent can only fulfil this responsibility by querying the process under which public land was converted to private land,  if there is evidence that the land was once public land.   In this regard, so long as the land was once public land, the Respondent has the Constitutional and statutory mandate of investigating the process under which it was converted into private land.”

50.  Consequently, this Court is inclined and indeed finds that the 1st Respondent has the jurisdiction to determine the complaint filed by the 3rd Respondent before it.  It has not been disputed that the suit property was a public land allocated to the 3rd Applicant.  The 1st and 2nd Applicants argue that they are innocent purchasers for value.

b)  Whether the Applicants   were afforded fair hearing.

51.  In  KandaVs Government Of Malasyia 1962 A C322, Lord Denning had the following to say about a proper hearing: -

“If the right to be heard is to be a real right which is worth anything, it must carry with it a right in the accused man to know the case which is made against him.  He must know what evidence has been given and what statements have been made affecting him; and then he must be given a fair opportunity to correct or contradict them”.

52. In the Landmark decision of the House of Lords in Ridge Vs Baldwin 1964 A.C 40,it was recognized that the rules of natural justice and in particular, the right to a fair hearing apply not only to bodies having a duty to act judicially but also to bodies exercising administrative duties.   In the Ridge Vs Baldwin(supra) Lord Hudson identified three features of natural justice as:-

1. The right to be heard by an un-biased Tribunal

2.  The right to have notice of the charge of misconduct

3.  The right to be heard in answer to these charges.

53. InRugsel Vs Duke of Norfolk 1949 1  ALL E.R109,it was noted thatalthough natural justice is a principle of universal application, it is nevertheless flexible and its requirement must depend on the circumstances of each case, the nature of inquiry, the rules under which the Tribunal is acting, the subject matter being dealt with.

54.  Consequently, the question as to whether the Applicants were granted an opportunity to present their case will depend on the specific circumstances herein.  It narrows down to whether they were given an opportunity to present their case.

55.  Justice B.N Olao J.  In Margaret Wairimu Magara & another Vs Faith Wanjiku Gikunju [2017] e KLRa case with almost similar circumstances to this one noted that:-

“However, by walking out of the Court, which has not been rebutted, they left the trial magistrate with no other option other than to hear the plaintiff and deliver a judgment on the evidence that was available.   A party who walks out of a Court cannot be heard to claim that his right to be heard has been violated.  Whether or not to grant an adjournment was a matter entirely within the discretion of the trial magistrate who was in charge of the proceedings.  Given the circumstances of this case and more particularly the un-rebutted averment by the Respondent that the Petitioners walked away when the matter was reached for hearing, any claim that there was a denial of the right to a fair hearing cannot, in my view, be sustained.”

56. In this case the Applicants were invited by the 1st Respondents to attend to the hearing of the complaint on 9th March, 2017, however on that date they sought an adjournment, which was granted and matter fixed for hearing on 6th April, 2017.  On this date the Applicants further sought an adjournment which adjournment was not granted and they subsequently walked and never attended the hearing fixed for 10. 30 a.m. The matter proceeded and the 1st Respondent fixed the 21st April, 2017 date for the hearing of the Applicant’s case, which however never proceeded as the Applicants advocate attended and never proceeded citing that he had filed application in Court.

57.  It is apparent to this Court that the opportunity was availed to the Applicants to present their case before the 1st Respondent Committee but it was squandered.   In the case of The Union Insurance Company of Kenya Ltd Vs Ramzan Abdul Dhanji C.A Civil Application No. 179 of 1996(un-reported), counsel for the Applicant did not turn up in Court for hearing and his application was dismissed.   On appeal, the Court of Appeal addressed itself as follows:

“The law, as we understand it, is not that parties must be heard in every litigation.  The law is that parties must be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard and once that opportunity is given and it is not utilized, then the only point on which the party not utilizing the opportunity can be heard is why he did not utilize it”

58.  The Court further noted: -

“The trial magistrate having declined to further adjourn the case, the Petitioners still had the option to conduct their own defence and not to walk out of the Court and by doing so, they did not utilize that opportunity.  Clearly, there was no violation of Article 50 of the Constitution.”

59. Guided by the foregoing, this Court is inclined to find the Applicants were granted sufficient opportunity to present their case, however they deliberately failed to utilize the same and therefore their allegation that their right to fair hearing was infringed has no basis.

c)  Whether the 1st and 2nd Applicants are innocent purchasers for value

60.  The 1st and 2ndApplicants have submitted that they are bona fide purchasers for value of the subject property from the 3rd Applicant. The 3rd Applicant argues that he was allotted the property by the defunct County Council of Marsabit. The 3rd Respondents have submitted that the said property was subdivided into 4 portions , in which 3 were converted into private property and among them the Applicant’s  own 1 portion. The dispute regards the parcel owned by the Applicants which they allege was set aside as part of a Christian grave yard and was illegally allotted to them.

61. The Court of Appeal in Lawrence P.  Mukiri Mungai, Attorney of Francis Muroki Mwaura Vs Attorney General & 4 others [2017] e KLRin regard to the meaning of a bonafide purchaser adopted  the definition of the Court of Appeal in Ugandan  case ofKatende Vs Haridar &  Company Limited [2008] 2 E.A. 173where the Court held:-

“For the purposes of this appeal, it suffices to describe a bona fide purchaser as a person who honestly intends to purchase the property offered for sale and does not intend to acquire it wrongly.   For a purchaser to successfully rely on the bona fide doctrine, (he) must prove that:

(a)  He holds a certificate of title;

(b)   he purchased the property in good faith;

(c)   he had no knowledge of the fraud;

(d)  he purchased for valuable consideration;

(e)   the vendors had apparent valid title;

(f)   he purchased without notice of  any fraud;

(g)  he was not party to any fraud.”

62. In the instant case, the 1st and 2nd Applicants are arguing that they were innocent purchasers for value and therefore since the suit property had been transferred to innocent purchaser for value, the 1st Respondent should interfere

63. There is evidence that even before a complaint was made to the 1st Respondent, the 3rd Respondent filed complaint before the Marsabit County Lands Board, which upon hearing both parties recommended that the matter be forwarded to the 1st Respondent. The 1st Respondent as found hereinabove was properly seized of the Jurisdiction to determine the complaint. It commenced investigations to investigate the grant to ascertain its propriety or legality.  All the procedures required in my opinion were complied with. These procedures included contacting all those affected including the Applicants to attend.

64. The Applicants were given opportunity to present their case, but chose otherwise.  After full consideration, the Commission found that the title to the land which resulted in the suit land had being unlawfully acquired hence their recommendation that it be revoked vide a Gazette notice, directing the Registrar to revoke the title pursuant Section 14(5) of the National Land Commission Act.

65. Obaga  J. an E.L.C Judge in the caseRegnol Oil (K) Limited Vs National Land Commission & another [2017] e KLRin regard to bona fide purchase of a public land noted:-

“Article 40 (6) of the Constitution does not afford any protection to land which is found to have been unlawfully acquired.  Article 40(6) of the Constitution does not exclude innocent purchasers of land which is found to have been unlawfully acquired. This is so because someone who has acquired land unlawfully has no good title to pass because that title is void ab initio. If it was the intention of the Constitution to protect such innocent purchasers of unlawfully acquired land, then there will be chaos because people would unlawfully acquire land and quickly sell the same to innocent purchasers who would then retain it.   I therefore find that Regnol is not entitled to compensation for the land.”

66. Consequently, this Court is inclined to agree with the above position and finds that the Applicant’s argument that they are innocent purchasers for value does not stand.  The 3rd Applicant had no valid title to pass to the 1st and 2nd Applicants.  And therefore their prayer that they are bona fide purchaser for value collapses.

ENDING

In conclusion, it is my considered opinion that the Instant Application lacks merit and the same is hereby dismissed with costs.

READ and SIGNED in open Court at Meru this 3rd day of June 2019.

E.C. CHERONO

ELC JUDGE

3RD JUNE, 2019

In the presence of:

1. Mr. Ondari holding brief for Nyamweya for Applicant

2. Respondent/Advocate – absent