Salome Mumbi Karumba v Stephen Ndichu Njihia [2016] KEHC 5365 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT NAIROBI

CIVIL   APPEAL NO.  323’A’   OF 2011

SALOME MUMBI KARUMBA ………………………………………….APPELLANT

VERSUS

STEPHEN NDICHU NJIHIA ……………………….....……………….RESPONDENT

RULING ON JURISDICTION OF THE HIGH COURT

This appeal arises from the judgment and decree in Thika Resident Magistrate 168 of 1991. The plaintiff’s claim against the defendant was for:-

(a) an  order  restraining  the defendant  from further  trespassing  on plot  No.  Ruiru/Ruiru East/Block 2 and 327; and

(b) Mesne profits and costs of the suit.

The above being the case, this court finds that it has no jurisdiction to hear and determine disputes relating to ownership, occupation or title to land.  The jurisdiction thereof is vested in the Environment and Land Court   as established under Section 4 of the Environment and Land Court   Act 2011 as contemplated in Article 162(2) (b) of the Constitution.

In addition, Article  165(5) (b)  of the Constitution  expressly ousts  the jurisdiction of the High Court from hearing  and determining  disputes  preserved  for the courts contemplated  in Article  162(2) of the Constitution.

Albeit this appeal was filed in 2011 during the  transitional  period  as the Environment  and  Land Court had not been fully operationalised, nonetheless, the  Environment  and  Land Court is now  fully operational  with competent  judges  to hear and determine  the disputes as contemplated in Article  162(2) (b)  of the Constitution and Section 13(1) and (7)  of the Environment  and  Land Court Act, 2011.

For those reasons  and as jurisdiction  is everything, without  which, this court can do no more  than down  its tools and refer this appeal  to the Environment  and  Land Court for further  directions  on its  disposal.  Mention  on 9th May  2016 before the  presiding  Judge  of Environment  and  Land Court Nairobi, the  respondent  to serve the  appellant  with mention  date.

R.E. ABURILI

JUDGE

25/4/2016