Stephen Ranji, Peter Mwangi, James Kiragu, Simon Kamau King’ori, Simon Ngigi Ngugi, Peter Gatuma, John Karomo & John Macharia Mugane (Suing on their own behalf and on behalf of BLOCK 16 SELF HELP GROUP) v Joseph Kihara Muithukia, Patrick Ndegwa Munyua & District Land Registrar, Nakuru [2021] KEELC 2398 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT OF KENYA

AT NAKURU

ELC PETITION  NO.E01  OF 2021

STEPHEN  RANJI...............................................................1ST PETITIONER

PETER MWANGI...............................................................2ND PETITIONER

JAMES  KIRAGU...............................................................3RD PETITIONER

SIMON  KAMAU KING’ORI............................................4TH PETITIONER

SIMON  NGIGI NGUGI....................................................5TH PETITIONER

REV. PETER GATUMA.......................................................6TH PETITIONER

JOHN KAROMO..............................................................7TH PETITIONER

JOHN MACHARIA  MUGANE.........................................8TH PETITIONER

(Suing   on their own behalf and on behalf of BLOCK 16 SELF HELP GROUP)

VERSUS

JOSEPH KIHARA MUITHUKIA......................................1ST RESPONDENT

PATRICK NDEGWA MUNYUA.......................................2ND RESPONDENT

THE DISTRICT LAND REGISTRAR, NAKURU.............3RD RESPONDENT

J U D G M E N T

1. The petitioner instituted the present petition vide the petition dated 28th January 2021 filed in court on 29th January 2021. The Petitioners are members of a Self Help Group known as “Block 16 Self Help Group” and have brought the petition on their own behalf and on behalf of the Group. The petitioners claim is that land parcels Nakuru Municipality Block 16/729 and Nakuru Municipality Block 16/730 registered in the names of the 1st and 2nd respondents respectively were public utility plots as they formed part of the road reserve. The petitioners averred that the respondents irregularly and unlawfully acquired the suit

properties in violation of the petitioner’s constitutional rights.

2. The petitioners sought the following reliefs against the respondents:-

(a)  A declaration that the petitioners are the rightful and lawful  allottees of all the parcel of land known  as Road Reserve, un-alienated  public  utility.

(b)  A declaration that the petitioner’s rights guaranteed and protected under section 75 of the repealed constitution and Articles 27,28,29,40,47,48 and 50 of the Constitution, 2010 have been violated by the respondents.

(c) a declaration that the issuance of the lease by the 3rd respondents to the 1st and 2nd respondents’ over parcels of land known as Nakuru Municipality Block 16/729 and 730 was null and void ab initio and ineffectual to confer any right/interest or title upon the 1st and 2nd respondents in the first instance.

(d)  An order for rectification on the land register by cancellation of the Lease title held by the 1st and 2nd respondents ( Patrick Ndegwa Munyua and  Joseph  Kihara Muithukia) in respect  of all or any of those parcels of land known as Nakuru Municipality  Block 16/729 and 730 respectively so as to restore the said parcels  of land as Public land to be utilized as police Post by the petitioners’.

(e ) An order compelling the respondents to deliver  vacant possession of all those properties known as Nakuru Municipality/block 16/729 and 730 by putting the petitioners in possession and in default  the respondents and/or  its tenants if any be evicted from the properties.

(f ) An order prohibiting the respondents either by themselves, their  agents, representatives or assigns from re-entering , taking possession of, alienating  or in any other way whatsoever interfering with the petitioners’  quiet  possession  of all those  properties known as Public Land and fraudulently registered as Nakuru Municipality /Block 16/729 and 730 respectively.

(g) In the alternative an order compelling the 1st and 2nd respondents either by themselves, their agents, servants, employees or otherwise howsoever to give the petitioner either by themselves and or their agents or employees full unfettered physical access to all those parcels of land known as Public Land and fraudulently registered as Nakuru Municipality/block 16/729 and 730 for purposes of retaining as police post.

(h) Costs of this petition.

3. The petitioners case is that they had sought and had been granted approval to set up a police post on the disputed land on the basis that the land was public land and/or a road reserve. They stated they expended substantial sums of money in erecting the temporarily police post. The petitioners acknowledged the 1st and 2nd respondents sued one Thomas Ngotho in Nakuru CMCC No. 551 of 2011 seeking injunctive orders in regard to the two parcels of land Block 16/729 and 730. They however averred they were not parties in the said suit.

4. The 1st and 2nd respondents filed replying affidavits in opposition to the petition and also filed preliminary objections to the petition. The 1st respondents preliminary objection dated 23rd February 2021 was to the effect that the petitioners lacked the locus standi to bring the petition and further that the petitioners having disobeyed the orders of the lower court they ought not to be heard in the petition. The 2nd respondent vide his notice of preliminary objection dated 24th February 2021 contended that  in Nakuru CMCC No.551 of 2011 Thomas  Njenga Ngotho (defendant) was representing  the interests of Block 16  Self Help Group  and  as judgment in the suit had been rendered the petition was  resjudicata. Further as the petitioners claim the suit properties were public property and were allocated to them for purposes of setting up a police post, the petitioners lack the locus standi  to present  the petition . The 2nd respondent further contended that the petition lacked specificity and does not satisfy the threshold for a constitutional petition.

5. The court on 9th March 2021 directed that the petition be heard and determined on the basis of affidavit evidence, documents and submissions of the parties. The court dispensed with the hearing of the interlocutory application on terms that the prevailing status quo be maintained and preserved pending the hearing and determination of the petition.

6. The court gave directions that the parties exchange their submissions within 60 days. When the matter was mentioned on 14th June 2021 only the 2nd respondent had filed  submissions. Gakinya advocate for the 1st respondent indicated he fully associated himself with the submissions filed by the 2nd respondent. The court granted the petitioners leave of 10 days from the mention date to file their submissions. At the expiry of the said 10 days and as  at the date of preparing this judgment no submissions had been filed  by the petitioners.

The petitioner case.

7. The petitioners case as expressed in the petition, the supporting affidavit and the further affidavit sworn by Stephen  Ranji  is that the petitioners are members of Block 16 Self Help Group  duly  registered with the Ministry of Gender Children & Social  Development as per the certificate  of registration issued on 20th September 2010. The petitioners are residents of and own properties within Block 16, Bondeni area of Nakuru County. The petitioners aver that land parcel  Nakuru  Municipality  Block 16/729 and 730 fall within a road reserve and was therefore  public  land. They aver that owing to insecurity they made  a request  to the  Local  Administration to be allowed to establish  a police post vide a letter dated  4th February  2011  addressed  to the D.O  Lanet  Division  and that  the D.O vide a letter  dated  4th February 2011 to the District Commissioner Nakuru  recommended  approval  of the request.  The Town Clerk Municipal Council of Nakuru vide a letter dated 18th March 2011 apparently granted approval for a temporary AP police post and the letter was in the following terms:-

Re: proposed administration Police post At St. Mary’s  Area- Nakuru Municipality.

We are in receipt of an application from Block 16 Self Help Group (St. Mary’s area) residents seeking to put up an office on a road reserve in the estate. The council cannot permit permanent development on road reserve.

However, the residents are allowed to place a container on the space to serve as an office on temporary basis. The council shall cause to vacate the site on notice if any works shall be required to be undertaken on the road reserve.

The container thereon shall be habitable as verified by the public Health Department and shall remain non-residential. In addition, the site/plot shall not constitute part of any disputed public or private land allocation.

Signed by

K K  Mbulusi

Town Clerk

CC

Administration Police Base Commandant

Nakuru

The chairman

Block 16 Self Help Group Residents

St. Mary’s Area- Nakuru

8. The petitioners state they took occupation and possession and expended substantial resources in setting up the police post. The petitioners averred that soon after they had been allocated the land the 1st and 2nd respondents appeared and deposited some building materials intending to put up a fence which would in effect Block access to some of their members residences. The 1st and 2nd respondents claimed they held title documents to the land. The petitioners stated their chairman then one Thomas Ngotho confronted the 1st  and 2nd respondent  to prove how they had acquired  title  to the land. The 1st and 2nd respondents maintained the parcels of land were owned by  them on the basis  of the titles they  held. The petitioners maintained the titles held by  the 1st and 2nd respondents could not be genuine since the survey  records do not even show  they exist.

9. The petitioners admit vide the sworn affidavit (paragraph 12 and 16) that Thomas Njenga Ngotho was their chairman and that the 1st and 2nd respondents indeed sued him in Nakuru CMCC No.551 of 2011 for encroachment and activities on land parcels Nakuru Municipality Block16/729 and 730 seeking permanent orders of injunction. The suit before the subordinate court was duly heard and determined. The subordinate court having found the 1st and 2nd respondents were the duly registered proprietors of the suit properties and their titles had not been challenged issued an order of permanent injunction restraining the defendant in the suit from in any manner interfering with the suit properties.

The Respondents case.

10. The respondents submit that the petitioners instant petition in effect is an indirect assault on the decision made in Nakuru CMCC No.551 of 2011 and is therefore brought in abuse of the court process and ought to be dismissed. The respondents assert that the petitioners are in effect invoking the court constitutional jurisdiction to settle what is essentially a matter for the Civil jurisdiction. The respondents in their submissions that the petitioners suit constitute abuse of the constitutional jurisdiction process rely on the case ofGrays Jepkemoi Kiplagat  -vs-  Zakayo  Chepkonga Cheruiyot (2021) eKLR where this court observed  as follows:-

“although I have in my foregoing discussion adverted to grounds ( c) and (d)  of the  preliminary objection that there are no constitutional  issues  that warrant adjudication  by the court  and that the petition  may very well constitute  an abuse  of the due process of the court, I need to observe that parties  are increasingly  filing  matters that are essentially Civil  matters and christening the same  as constitutional  Petitions which  is not  proper . Where there is the alternative remedy of filing a suit in the ordinary civil courts, a party ought not to invoke the jurisdiction of the constitutional court”.

11. The respondents also placed reliance on the cases of Godfrey Paul Okutoyi & others -vs- Habil Oloka & Another (2018) eKLR and Japheth Ogada Origa -vs-  Vice Chancellor University of Nairobi & 2 others (2018) eKLRto support their submissions that the petition need not satisfy the threshold of what qualifies as a constitutional petition. The present constitutional petition in my view falls within the realm of what should be adjudicated before the Civil Courts.

12. The Respondents additionally have submitted that the petition isresjudicata having regard to the determination in Nakuru CMCC 551 of 2011 where the legitimacy of  the titles to land parcels Nakuru  Municipality  Block 16/729 and 730 was in issue. The respondents contend that one Thomas Njenga Ngotho who the evidence shows was a member of the petitioners Self Help Group claimed the parcels of land were public land allocated to the residents to construct a police post. The issue was determined by a competent court and the titles in favour  of the respondents were upheld.

13. The Supreme Court in the case of Kenya Commercial Bank Ltd -vs- Muiri Coffee Estates Ltd & Another (2016) eKLR while considering the application of Resjudicata doctrine at paragraph 54 of their judgment observed as follows:-

“ (54) The doctrine  of res judicata in effect allows a litigant only one bite of the cherry. It prevents a litigant, or persons claiming under the same title, from returning to court to claim further relief not claimed in the earlier action. It is a doctrine that serves the cause of order and efficacy on the adjudication process. The doctrine prevents a multiplicity  of suits which  would ordinarily  clog  the courts, apart  from  occasioning unnecessary cost to the  parties;  it ensures the litigation comes to an end, and the verdict duly translates into fruits for one party, conclusively”.

14. At paragraph 58 of the judgment the Supreme court further stated as follows:-

“(58) Hence, whenever the question of resjudicata is raised  a court will look  at the decision  claimed  to have settled the issues in question;  the  entire pleadings and record of that  previous  case;  and the instant case  to ascertain  the issue determined in the previous  case. The court should ascertain whether the parties are the same, or are litigating  under the same  title,  and whether  the previous  case was  determined by a court  of competent jurisdiction”

15. Applying the principles governing the application of the doctrine of Resjudicata to the present case, I am persuaded Nakuru  CMCC No.551 of 2011 involved  the same parties  as in the instant petition. Thomas Njenga Ngotho was a member of the petitioners Self Help Group and was infact their chairman at the time of the suit. He was in the suit propagating the interest of the petitioners.

16. In the judgment rendered by the subordinate court it is clear what was in issue was whether land parcels Nakuru Municipality block 16/729 and 730 were on public land namely a road reserve that had been allocated to residents of Block 16 to establish a police post. The defendant (Thomas Njenga) gave evidence that the community was allocated the land. There is no doubt that in the suit before the subordinate court, he represented the petitioners. The documents exhibited in the subordinate court are the same documents which exhibited in support of the petition. Though the petitioners may not have been active parties in the suit before the subordinate court, they were aware of the suit and Thomas  Njenga  ( defendant represented them in the proceedings. In the premises it is my finding that the present petition is resjudicataas the issues being raised are substantially the same issues that were raised in the previous suit.

17. The respondents have further submitted that the petition lacks specificity and does not pass the test enunciated in the case of  Anarita Karimi Njeru  -vs-  The Repiblic (1976-1980) KLR 1272 and further  restated by  the Court of Appeal in the case of Mumo Matemu -vs-  Trusted Society of human Rights Alliance & 5 others (2013) eKLRwhere  the court of Appel at Paragraph  41 of its judgment stated thus:-

“(41) We cannot but emphasize the importance of precise claims in due process, substantive justice, and the exercise of jurisdiction are a function of precise legal and factual claims. However, we also note that precision is not coterminous with exactitude. Restated, although precision must remain a requirement as it is important it demands neither formulaic prescription of the factual nor formalistic utterance of the Constitutional provisions alleged to have been violated. We speak particularly knowing that the whole function of pleadings, hearing, submissions and  the judicial  decision is to define issues in litigation and adjudication, and to demand exactitude  exante is to miss the point”

18. The court further at paragraph 42 of the judgment stated:-

“ --- Cases cannot be dealt with  unless   the parties and the court know the issues in controversy. Pleadings assist in that regard and are tenet of the substantive justice, as they give fair notice to the other party. The  principle in Anarita Karimi Njeru (supra) that established the rule requires  reasonable precision in framing  of  issues in constitutional petitions is an extension of this  principle.

19.  In the case of Grays Jepkemoi Kiplagat  -vs-  Zakayo Chepkonga Cheruiyot( supra) this  court  stated thus:-

“ it is indisputable  that a constitutional petition to be sustainable  as such must at a minimum satisfy  a basic threshold. It must with some reasonable degree of precision identify the constitutional provisions that are alleged to have been violated and/or threatened violation. I do not suppose it is enough to merely cite constitutional provisions. There has to be some particulars of alleged infringements to enable the respondents to be able to respond to and/or answer to the allegations or complaints”

20. In the present petition, the petitioners have merely set out articles of the constitution that they allege the respondents have violated. The facts set out under paragraph 32 to 43 of the petition on which the petition is based are the same facts that were presented below the court before in Nakuru CMCC No. 551 of 2011 and the court made a determination. There is no definitive evidence that land parcels Nakuru Municipality Block 16/729 and 730 fall within a road reserve. The Agencies Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Kenya National Roads Authority or Kenya National Highways Authority who have mandate over roads are not parties in the petition to affirm  whether  or not  the suit plots are  on a road reserve. Further the Kenya National Police Service who exercise mandate over police stations  and/or posts have not affirmed  the  establishment of a police post on the disputed  property site.

21. The petitioners have not in my view pleaded the petition with the specificity required to enable the respondents to make an appropriate response. Besides, the petitioners have not demonstrated they have constitutional rights that have crystalized and therefore capable of being violated. The matters the subject of the petition have previously been litigated as aforestated and the petition is resjudicata and is brought in abuse of the court process and the same is unsustainable.

22. The upshot is that I find the petition lacks merit and I order the same dismissed with cost to the respondents.

JUDGEMENT DATED SIGNED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY AT NAKURU  THIS 28TH DAY OF JULY 2021.

J M MUTUNGI

JUDGE