Republic v Kipkaren Land Disputes Tribunal & Kipkurgat Tarus Ex-Parte Joseph Kipsang Tarus [2014] KEHC 7098 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT ELDORET

Misc. Judicial Review No. 25 Of 2010

REPUBLIC…..................................................................  APPLICANT

=VERSUS=

KIPKAREN LAND DISPUTES TRIBUNAL…....................  1ST RESPONDENT

KIPKURGAT TARUS…...............................................................          2ND RESPONDENT

JOSEPH KIPSANG TARUS ..........................................................EX-PARTE APPLICANT

JUDGMENT

The Ex-parte Applicant , JOSEPH KIPSANG TARUS, has  come to this Court, seeking an order  of CERTIORARI,  to quash the decision of the KIPKAREN LAND DISPUTES TRIBUNAL dated  12th September, 2006.  The  Applicant  also asks for the consequential order, that would  quash the decision by the Principal  Magistrate's Court, Kapsabet, adopting the decision of the Tribunal.

The  Primary reason advanced by the applicant, for seeking those reliefs, was  that the decision of the Tribunal was ultra vires, and  was therefore illegal.

The  Respondent has pointed out that the Ex-parte Applicant  adequately participated in the proceedings before the Tribunal.  Therefore, the Respondent believes that the Applicant was peddling falsehoods, by alleging that he had not been accorded a fair hearing by the Tribunal.

In any event, if the Applicant was in need of more time, he could easily have asked the Tribunal to allow him more time.  But  because he did not seek more time before the  Tribunal,  the Respondent  submitted that  that was  an indication that the Applicant  was  accorded sufficient  time and opportunity to advance his case.

The 2nd Respondent added that he was in occupation of the suit property, and that he had made developments on the said land.  Therefore, he felt that it could be unjust to grant the orders  sought by the Applicant.

Having given due consideration to the matters in issue, I note that the 2nd Respondent  herein, KIPKURGAT TARUS,  was  the Plaintiff in the case before the Tribunal, whilst the Defendant was JOSEPH KIPSANG TARUS.

The Plaintiff told the tribunal that his claim was for the land which he had  purchased from the Defendant.  As far as the Plaintiff was concerned, he had paid the full purchase price, amounting to Kshs 40,000/=.

The record of the proceedings  before the Tribunal shows that the Defendant conceded having  sold a portion of his land to the Plaintiff.

After  the members  of the Tribunal had given due consideration to the evidence tendered,  they concluded  as follows:-

ELDERS VERDICT

After a keen observation the panel has finally resolved that:-

The Plaintiff bought this land and that he paid all themoney required by the Defendant because  he paidthe agreed cost  of 40,000/= (forty thousand only) ofwhich he paid at once.  Later on he proceeded  boughtan extra three points.  The Plaintiff then has a  rightof his share of 1. 3 acres.

That  may  the honourable Court award thePlaintiff Mr. Kipkurgat Tarus 1. 3 acres landand  transfer the same to him.

JOSHUA TANUI                  -           CHAIRMAN                         (Signed)

KIPKOLUM  BIRGEN        -           MEMBER                              (Signed)

PRISCA  LETTING              -           MEMBER                              (Signed)  ”

There  is absolutely no doubt at all that the Plaintiff was claiming land which he had bought  from the Defendant.

The  Tribunal awarded him the said land, after he persuaded the Tribunal that he had paid the whole purchase price, for the 1. 3 acres of land.

It is common ground that the land in issue is Title  Number NANDI/KURGUNG/497.  There is a Land Certificate issued under the Registered Land Act, and it is in the name of JOSEPH KIPSANG TARUS.

That parcel of land is said to be 1. 6 Hectares, and the Land Certificate was  issued on 3rd April, 1981.

As  the proceedings before the Kipkaren Land Disputes Tribunal were conducted on 12th September, 2006, that meant that the Tribunal  adjudicated over the issue when the Land Certificate  had already been issued.

Having been convinced  that the Respondent  had purchased  1. 3 acres from the Applicant, the Tribunal  concluded that the Applicant herein should transfer  that portion of land to the Respondent.

At no time did the Applicant complain that the Tribunal denied him either more  time or an opportunity to call any witness.

Therefore, it does appear to me that there is no  merit in the Applicant's contention that he had not been accorded  a fair hearing.

The Land Disputes Tribunals derive their Jurisdiction from Section 3(1) of the Land  Disputes Tribunal Act.

Pursuant to that provision, the Tribunal has jurisdiction  over all cases of a civil nature, involving disputes  relating to;

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

A claim to occupy or work land;  or

Trespass to land.

In my understanding, the Kipkaren Land Disputes Tribunal  did not limit itself within the Jurisdiction conferred upon it by law.  I say so because the Tribunal made a determination on the issue of ownership  of the 1. 3 acres, which the Respondent said he had bought from the Applicant.

By directing that the portion of land be transferred  to the Respondent, the Tribunal  acted in excess of its Jurisdiction.  Therefore,  their  said determination was  a nullity.  I  do now  quash the decision which the Kipkaren Land Disputes Tribunal  handed down on 12th September, 2006, in relation to Title Number NANDI/KURGUNG/497.  The same was a nullity, for want of jurisdiction.

Secondly, the order made by the Principal Magistrate's Court, Kapsabet, adopting the award of the Tribunal, is also quashed.

The Ex-parte Applicant and  the 2nd Respondent had  willingly participated in the proceedings before the Tribunal.  It would  thus be unfair to the  2nd Respondent to be condemned to pay the costs of the proceedings before either the Tribunal or before the Principal Magistrate's Court, Kapsabet.  I  order that each party bears  his own costs before those two bodies.

However, the costs  of these Judicial Review proceedings  are awarded to the Ex-parte  Applicant.  The  same  shall be paid by the 2nd Respondent.

DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT  ELDORET,

THIS    5TH  DAY OF  FEBRUARY,  2014.

…......................................................

FRED A. OCHIENG

JUDGE.