Theresia Katuku Vulu v Kavata Muendo Ndolo, Mueni Mutundu, Mutuku Muendo, Kanini Muendo, Ndanu Muendo & Ndambuki Mueno [2018] KEELC 2153 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE   ENVIRONMENT AND LAND  COURT  AT MAKUENI

ELC NO. 3/2018

THERESIA KATUKU VULU..........................PLAINTIFF

VERSUS

KAVATA MUENDO  NDOLO............1ST DEFENDANT

MUENI MUTUNDU...........................2ND  DEFENDANT

MUTUKU  MUENDO........................3RD  DEFENDANT

KANINI  MUENDO...........................4TH DEFENDANT

NDANU MUENDO............................5TH DEFENDANT

NDAMBUKI MUENO......................6TH  DEFENDANT

RULING

1. On  the 2nd March, 2018 the defendants filed a notice of preliminary objection dated the 28th February, 2018.

2. The defendant  contends that  the plaintiff’s suit is bad in law, incurably defective and an abuse of the court since the plaintiff has no locus standi.

3. On the  15th May, 2018 the defendant filed an affidavit  sworn at Machakos  on an unnamed date in support of the preliminary objection. In paragraph 3 of their affidavit,  the defendants contend that the land parcel number  Makueni/Kimundi/3986 is registered in the  name of one  Thoma Kiio Mailu as per the certificate of official search annexed  to the affidavit as annexture KMN-1. As such  according  to the  defendants, the  plaintiff has no locus  standi to institute this  suit.

4. On the 14th June,  2018,  the plaintiff  filed her replying affidavit to the preliminary objection the same being sworn at Nairobi  on the  23rd May, 2018. In paragraph 1 of her affidavit, the  plaintiff has deposed that she is the registered owner of the suit land herein and proceeded  to annex title  deed  number  Makueni/Kimundi/3986 and certificate of official search as  annexture  TKVI. The  two documents  bear    her name.

5. On  the  5th  April, 2018 the court directed   that the preliminary objection be disposed off by way of written submissions.  By the time of writing this ruling,  only the defendants had filed their submissions.  The defendant rely on section  24(a)  of the Land Registration Act which provides that;

“ That subject to this Act, the registration of a person as a proprietor of land shall vest in that  person the absolute ownership of that land together with all rights and privileges belonging or appurtenant thereto”

6. They also rely on the case of Kibera Blessed AcademyVsWorld Missionary Evangelism of Kenya  Registered Trustees and 4 others [2016] eKLR.

7. In the  case of Mukisa Biscuit  Manufacturing   Co. Ltd Vs West End Distributors Ltd[1969] EA 696 Sir Charles Newbold  P observed as follows:-

“ A preliminary  objection  is in the nature of what used to be a demurrer. It raises a pure  point  of law which is argued  on the assumption that all facts pleaded  by the other  side are correct.  It cannot be raised if any of the fact has to be ascertained or if what is sought is the exercise of judicial discretion.  The improper raising  of points  law by way of  preliminary objection does  nothing  but unnecessarily increase costs and, on  occasion confuse issues. This  improper   practice  should stop”

8. In the preliminary objection before me, the issue of registration  of ownership that the  defendants  raise is a question of fact. There is  contestation as to  whether  or not  the suit land i.e Makueni/Kimundi/3986 is registered   in the name   of the plaintiff  herein.  That contestation can only be resolved by way of evidence. As such, I  hold that the defendants  have improperly raised a point  of law by way of preliminary objection and the same has no merits. In the circumstances, I hereby proceed to dismiss the preliminary objection with costs to the plaintiff.

Signed, dated and delivered at Makueni this 18TH day of July, 2018.

MBOGO C.G,

JUDGE

In the  presence;

Mr.  Mutune for the defendant

Munyasia & Co.  for the  plaintiffs

Mr. Kwemboi  Court Assistant

MBOGO C.G, JUDGE

18/7/2018