REPUBLIC v CHAIRMAN, MERU LAND DISPUTES TRIBUNAL CENTRAL DISTRICT & another Ex-parte ERASTUS NGEERA [2009] KEHC 941 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT

AT MERU

Judicial Review 23 of 2009

IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW ORDERS IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI AND PROHIBITON

AND

IN THE MATTER OF MERU CENTRAL DISPUTES TRIBUNAL CASE NO. 43 OF 2008

AND

IN THE MATTER OF MERU CHIEF MAGISTRATE’S LDT CASE NO. 73 OF 2008

AND

IN THE MATTER OF LR. NOS. KIIRUA/RUIRI/4548 AND 4549

REPUBLIC ……………………………………. APPLICANT

VERSUS

THE CHAIRMAN, MERU LAND DISPUTES

TRIBUNAL CENTRAL DISTRICT …………… 1ST RESPONDENT

THE MERU CENTRAL DISTRICT LAND

DISPUTES TRIBUNAL ……………………….. 2ND RESPONDENT

LAWRENCEKITHIRA MUTHAMIA … 1ST INTERESTED PARTY

MARGARET KAREGI MUTHAMIA …2ND INTERESTED PARTY

EX PARTE …………………………….. ERASTUS NGEERA

JUDGMENT

What is before court in this judgment is the notice of motion dated 7th April 2009.  The notice of motion seeks orders of judicial review, in particular, certiorari to bring and quash the decision of the Meru Central District Land Tribunal and an order of prohibition to prohibit the respondents from entertaining the dispute over parcel No. Kiirua/Ruiri/4549.  The background of this matter is that M’Mugambi M’Itonga deceased was the owner of parcel No. Kiirua/Ruiri/93.  He was survived by two sons.  One is the ex parte applicant Erastus Ngeera and the other one is the late Sebastino who is not in these proceedings.  By an order of this court the parcel of land number 93 was ordered to be sub divided with the ex parte applicant getting 10. 40 acres and the late Sebastino 11 acres.  The ex parte applicant did eventually get his title of that portion of land which is Kiirua/Ruiri/4549.  The two wives of the late Sebastino moved to Meru Central District Tribunal seeking an order that they are entitled to occupy and work on the ex parte applicant parcel of land 4549.  The Land Tribunal ruled that a surveyor should once again combine the ex parte applicant’s parcel of land with that of the late Sebastino and thereafter divide it into two portions horizontally.  Had the tribunal ruled as to the applicant’s sought they would have been within the jurisdiction of the Land Dispute Tribunal Act and more particularly section 3(1).  As it can be seen by their ruling, they effectively canceled the title of the ex parte applicant.  The issue of the jurisdiction of the Land Dispute Tribunal has been the subject of much judicial decisions.  It is clear from all the decisions that the tribunal has no jurisdiction to order cancellation of a title and sub division of the same as was ordered in this case.  To mention but just one of such decision is the case of the Court of Appeal Jotham Amunavi Vrs. The Chairman Sabatia Division Land Disputes Tribunal and Enos Kenyani Amunavi High Court Civil Appeal No. 256 of 2002 where the court had this to say:-

“The implementation of the decision of the tribunal           entails the sub-division of the suit land into two            parcels and opening a register in respect of each               sub-division and thereafter the transfer of the sub-           division of half acre to Kenyani (See Section 89 of              the RLA.)

It is clear that the proceedings before the tribunal             related both to title to land and to beneficial                     interest in the suit land.  Such a dispute is not, in             our view, within the provisions of section 3(1) of              the Land Disputes Tribunal Act.  By section 159 of              the RLA such a dispute can only be tried by the               High Court or by the Resident Magistrate’s court in        cases where such latter court has jurisdiction.”

Section 3(1) of the Land Dispute Tribunal Act is in the following terms:-

“3. (1)  Subject to this Act, all cases of a civil                  nature involving a dispute as to-

(a)  The division of or the determination of                     boundaries to   land, including land held in                    common;

(b)  A claim to occupy or work land: or

(c)Trespass to land

shall be heard and determined by a Tribunal                    established under section 4”.

Looking at the provisions from that section, I do find that Meru Central District Land Tribunal in case No. 43 of 2008 exceeded its jurisdiction and their said decision is ultra vires to the said section.  Accordingly, the prayers that are sought by the applicant are merited.  I grant the following orders:-

1. This court thus hereby issue an order of certiorari removing the respondent decision in case No. 43 of 2008 dated 30th October 2008 into this High Court and quashing the same.

2. The respondent is hereby prohibited from further entertaining the dispute relating to the ownership of parcel No. Kiirua/Ruiri/4549.

3. Since the parties in this matter are related, and because it was the tribunal that failed to abide by the jurisdiction provided under the Land Dispute Tribunal Act, I will order that each party do pay their own costs.

Dated and delivered at Meru this 6th November 2009.

MARY KASANGO

JUDGE