Veronicah Kimoi Kimitei v Barnard K Kemboi [2015] KEHC 3853 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE ENVIRONMENT   AND LAND COURT OF KENYA

ELC NO 64 OF 2014

VERONICAH   KIMOI   KIMITEI..................................PLAINTIFF

VERSUS

BARNARD  K  KEMBOI..........................................DEFENDANT

RULING

(Application for contempt; defendant jailed for 6 months for disobedience of order of injunction).

1. The application before me is brought under order 40   Rule 3 of the Civil Procedure Rules.  It seeks to have the defendant/respondent punished for disobeying an order of injunction. The application   is opposed.

2. It is not in contention that   this   court (Waithaka  L.  J)  did   issue  an order   of  injunction on 8th  April 2014.  In his replying  affidavit, the  respondent  has deposed that  he has been  in  possession  of the land  since  1997  and therefore  the terms  of the  order  are  not   clear. He has actually admitted in his affidavit that he is using the land and has ploughed it.  In essence the respondent is actually admitting to disobeying the court order.

3. It cannot be overemphasized that court orders must be obeyed.  If anyone needs an explanation or is aggrieved by an order, the remedy is not to disobey the order.  I  on  my  part  will not  condone lawlessness  or  any  blatant  disregard of  court  orders.

4. Order 40 Rule 3 does give the court authority to punish for disobedience. Such person may be detained   in prison for upto  6 months .

5. It has been said that the defendant is a first   offender. That  is so but  he  has not shown nor demonstrated  any remorse, nor has he showed willingness to further  comply with the  order  herein.  I have  no  sympathy  for  him and order  his detention  for  6  months  unless  he   purges  his  contempt.

6. The  defendant/respondent  is  present  in court  and I order  that  we  be  escorted  to the cells  to start  his term  as ordered.

Dated, signed and delivered in open court at Nakuru this 14th day of May 2015.

MUNYAO SILA

JUDGE

ENVIRONMENT & LAND COURT

AT NAKURU

In presence of: -

Mr   Kipkenei   present for   plaintiff/applicant

Ms  Apolot  holding brief for  Mr  Simiyu  for   defendant/respondent

CA:  Janet

MUNYAO SILA

JUDGE

ENVIRONMENT & LAND COURT

AT NAKURU