Mercy Wanja Karimi v James G. Kareche [2020] KEHC 5177 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF  KENYA

IN  THE  HIGH  COURT OF KENYA AT KERUGOYA

HIGH COURT CIVIL APPEAL NO. 31 OF 2015

MERCY WANJA KARIMI...............................................................APPELLANT

VERSUS

JAMES   G.  KARECHE................................................................RESPONDENT

RULING

1. This appeal was  pending   judgment  before  this  court,  I have considered this appeal, it arises from the Judgment in the Chief Magistrate’s  Court  at  Kerugoya  Civil  Suit  No. 286  of  2014.  The appellant who was the plaintiff    had  filed  a  plaint  dated  15th  December, 2014  seeking  an  order  that; “  the   defendant  do vacate  land  parcel  number,  Mutira / Kaguyu/3728  within  seven days  and  in default  he  be forcefully evicted and  a declaration  that, the  sale  agreement dated  26th  of  March, 2008  has become void/ frustrated by  3rd  parties, and  the  defendant  to collect  his  purchase  price ( Kshs; 220,000/=)  forthwith”

2. The only other prayer was of costs and interest.

3. The defendant had filed a defence and counter claim. The appellant’s claim was based on contract of sale of land, the respondents has pointed out to this court in his submissions filed  by  Magee  Law  LLP   dated  20th  November, 2019,  that  the  suit  relate  to  land  and  under  the  law  only  the  Environment  and  Land  Court  has  exclusive  jurisdiction  to hear  such  claims.  He has referred this court to Article162 (2) ( b)  of  The  Constitution.  Which provides that:

“Parliament shall establish courts  with  the  status  of  High  Court  to  hear  and determine  disputes  relating  to  the  environment,  and the  use  and  occupation  of,  and   title  to land.”

He  has  also  referred  this  court  to  Section  4  of  the  Environment  and  Land  Court  Act,  which  provides  that;  the  Environment and  Land  court  has  jurisdiction  to  hear    disputes  relating  to  environment  and   land,   He  has  also   referred  the  court  to  Section  13  of  the  Environment and  Land  Court  Act    which  provides  that;  “the  court  has  original  and  appellate  jurisdiction  to  hear  and determine  all disputes  in  accordance  with   Article  162  (2)  ( b)  of  the   Constitution  and  the  provisions  of   the  Act,  or  any  other  written  law  relating  to  Environment  and  Land.”The respondent therefore  submits  that  the  court  lacks  jurisdiction  to entertain  the  appeal  hearing, and  the  same  should be  dismissed  with  costs.

4. I have considered this submission Under Section 13 (2)(a) of the Environment and Land Court Act, it is provided that the court shall have power to hear  and determine  disputes  relating  to;

(a) “Environment, planning and protection, climate issues,  land  use  planning,  title,  tenure,  boundaries,  rates,  rents, valuations,  mining,  minerals  and  other  natural  resources.”  Under the  Section,  the  Environment  and  Land  Court,  shall  exercise  appellate  jurisdiction, over  the  decisions  of   sub-ordinates  courts,  or  local  tribunals,  in  respect  of matters,  falling  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court.

5. The court also exercises jurisdiction in claims for compensation, Specific performance, costs among others.  And having considered the claim which was before the Chief Magistrate court, I find that the  court  with  jurisdiction  is  the  Environment and  land  court  which  is  established  under  Article  162 (2) (b)  of  the  Constitution.   It is trite that jurisdiction is everything, and without it the  court  pens  off.  In the case of; OWNER OF MOTOR-VESSEL LILIAN S-VERSUS- CALTEX OIL  KENYA  LIMITED ( 1969) KLR  1.  The court held that:

“Ithink  that  it  is  reasonably  plain  that  a  question  of  jurisdiction  ought  to be  raised  at  the  earliest  opportunity,   the court seized  of  the  matter  is  then  obliged  to decide  the  issue  right  away  on the  material  before  it.   Jurisdiction is everything.  Without it, a court has no power to make one more step, where a court has no jurisdiction, there would be no basis  for  continuation  of  proceedings,  pending  other  evidence.    A  court  of   law  downs  tools,  in  respect  of  the  matter  before  it,   the  moment  it  holds  the  opinion  that,   it  is  without  jurisdiction.”

6. The suit before the sub-ordinate  court,  was based  on related  to   a contract  of  sale  of  land.  The Environment and land court is  the  court  with  jurisdiction,  and  this  issue  having  been  raised  at  this  stage,   I  should  down  my   tools.

7. The question is whether,  I  should  dismiss  the  appeal. My  view  is  that,  since  the  parties  have  proceeded  and  have  filed  submissions,   the  matter  should  be transferred  to  the  court  with  jurisdiction.   Therefore, make an  order  that,  the  appellant  to  move  the  court,  to transfer  the  appeal to  the  court with  Jurisdiction.

I make no  order  as  to  costs.

Dated at Kerugoya this 8th day of May 2020 .

L.W. GITARI

JUDGE