Republic v Principal Magistrate Siaya & Siaya Land Disputes Tribunal Ex-Parte John Otieno Okaka, Rose Atieno Otieno & Vincent Otieno Odawa [2016] KEELRC 846 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT KISUMU

JUDICIAL REVIEW   CASE NO.43 OF 2012

IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW

ORDERS OF CERTIORARI

AND

IN THE MATTER OF PROVISIONS OF THE LAND DISPUTE ACT NO.18 OF 1990

AND

IN THE MATTER OF SIAYA LAND DISPUTES

TRIBUNAL CASE NO.91 OF 2010 AND SIAYA LAND

CASE NUMBER 46 OF 2011

VINCENT OTIENO ODAWA -VS- JOHN OTIENO OKAKA

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

VERSUS

THE PRINCIPAL MAGISTRATE SIAYA......................................1ST RESPONDENT

SIAYA LAND DISPUTES TRIBUNAL.........................................2ND RESPONDENT

AND

VINCENT OTIENO ODAWA …...............................................INTERESTED PARTY

EX-PARTE

JOHN OTIENO OKAKA..............................................................................SUBJECT

ROSE ATIENO OTIENO ….........................................................................SUBJECT

J U D G M E N T

1. John Otieno Okaka and Rose Atieno Otieno, the Exparte Applicants, obtained leave to file the substantive application for judicial review orders on  21st August 2012.  They were directed to file their  application within 21 days  and they did so by filing the notice of motion dated 10th September 2012 on the  11th September 2012.  They seek for the following:

a)  An order of certiorari to call into the court and quash the Siaya Land  Disputes Tribunal award in case No.91 of 2010.

b)     Costs.

2. The Exparte Applicants set out four grounds on the notice of motion  summarized as follows;

a) That the Land Disputes Tribunal Act has since been repealed.

b) That the Tribunal exceeded its powers by deciding ownership of  registered  land and hence their award was void.

c) That the registered proprietor of the suit land, subject matter of the dispute, was not a party to the tribunal proceedings and the award divested her  of her  property without a hearing.

3. The notice of motion listed Vincent Otieno Odawaas the Interested Party and he filed a notice to Act in person dated 24th April 2013. Thereafter M/S S.O.Madialo & Co, Advocates filed a notice of appointment of advocate on behalf of the Interested Party dated 16th May 2013 on the 27th May 2013.

4. The notice of motion came up for hearing on 30th May 2016. Mr Nyauma for thePrincipal Magistrate SiayaandSiaya Land Disputes Tribunal,the   Respondents, indicated that they were conceding to the application with no orders as to costs.  M/S Onyango for Madialo for the Interested Party  sought for time to allow the substitution of Rose Atieno Otieno, the 2nd Exparte Applicant.  Mr Amondi for the Exparte Applicants submitted that their notice of motion was not  opposed and should be allowed.

5. The following are the issues for the court's consideration;

a) Whether the Siaya Land disputes Tribunal exceeded their powers as  alleged.

b) Whether the Exparte Applicants were given a fair hearing.

c) Who pays the costs.

6. The court has carefully considered the grounds on the notice of motion, the statement of facts, the affidavit verifying facts and the annextures thereto and  come to the following conclusions:

a) That the power of the Land Disputes Tribunal was as limited under Section 3(1)of the Land Disputes Tribunal Act No.18 of 1990.  The tribunals  had the   power to decide on the division of, or the determination of boundaries to  land, including land held in common, a claim to occupy or work land, or trespass to land.

b) That the Land disputes Tribunal Act was repealed on 30th August 2011 under Section 31of the Environment and Land Court Act No.19 of 2011.

c)  That a reading of the proceedings of  Siaya Land Disputes Tribunal Case No.91 of 2010clearly shows that the claim Vincent Otieno Odawa (Interested Party) had lodged against John Otieno Okaka(1st Exparte Applicant) was based on a sale of land agreement and was seeking specific performance orders. The Tribunal went ahead to order that the 1st  Exparte applicant do transfer to the Interested Party the land parcel Central  Alego/Komollo/2041.

That was  inspite of the fact that the Interested Party had in his evidence disclosed that the 1st Exparte Applicant had transferred the land to Rose Atieno Otieno who was not  a party to the proceedings.

d) That the Tribunal did not have the powers to cancel title or confer title to registered land as that was ultra vires their jurisdiction in view of Section 3(1) of the Land Disputes Tribunal Act.

e) That the Tribunal also failed to ensure the registered proprietor was given the opportunity to be heard in accordance with the rules of natural justice and

Article 50 of the Constitution 2010 before making an award that divested her of her proprietary interests to the land.

7. That flowing from the foregoing the court finds that the Exparte Applicant's notice of motion dated 10th September 2012 has merit and is allowed in the  following terms:

a) That an order of certiorari is hereby issued calling into this court  and quashing the Siaya Land Disputes Tribunal award in Case  No.91 of 2010 in respect  of Central Alego/Komollo/2041.

b) That the Interested Party  will pay the Exparte Applicants costs.

It is so ordered.

S.M. KIBUNJA

ENVIRONMENT & LAND – JUDGE

DATED AND DELIVERED THIS 28TH  DAY OF JULY 2016

In presence of;

EX PARTE APPLICANTS Absent

RESPONDENTS  Absent

INTERESTED PARTY  absent

Counsel    Mr Anyumba for Amondi for Exparte Applicant and M/S Kyamazima

S.M. KIBUNJA

ENVIRONMENT & LAND – JUDGE

28/7/2016

28/7/2010

S.M. KIBUNJA J.

Oyugi court Assistant

M/S Kyamasima for Interested party

Mr Anyumbas for Amondi for Exparte Applicant

Court:  Judgment delivered in open court in presence of Mr Anyumba for Amondi for Exparte Applicant and m/S Kyamazima for Interested party.

S.M. KIBUNJA

ENVIRONMENT & LAND – JUDGE

28/7/2016