Center for Litigation Trust v Sunnex Enterprises Limited & 8 others (Environment and Land Petition E004 of 2026) [2026] KEELC 4818 (KLR)
The bottom line
#Kenya's Environment and Land Court dismissed a trust's bid to recover public land, confirming that land recovery belongs to the EACC, not private litigants.
What this practically means
#Executive summary
#Key legal issues
#Locus standi of a public-spirited trust to sue for recovery of public land
The petitioner lacks standing because recovery of public land is a statutory function of the EACC under Section 11 of the EACC Act, not of a private trust
The court observed that the prayers sought are principally within the ambit of the EACC, which under Section 11(1)(j) of the EACC Act may institute and conduct proceedings for recovery or protection of public property. Since such power is bestowed on the EACC, a petitioner attempting to recover land on behalf of KRA and the EACC cannot claim standing, notwithstanding the liberal approach to locus standi under Articles 22 and 258 of the Constitution.
Sub judice and abuse of court process
The petition is sub judice and an abuse of process because consolidated suits (ELC No. 21 of 2023, 22 of 2023, 25 of 2023 and 55 of 2008) involving the same parcel, parties and issues are already pending
The court accepted the 2nd respondent's submission that pending consolidated suits over the same land were earlier filed in the same court, involving the same parties and the same issues of ownership, possession and occupation. The petitioner, a public-spirited body, could not feign ignorance since the EACC and KRA were already litigating recovery of the same land. Relying on the sub judice principle in Republic v Kariuki, the court declined to entertain parallel proceedings.
Legal principles established
#- The power to recover public property on behalf of the government is vested in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission under Section 11(1)(j) of the EACC Act, not in private or public-spirited litigants
- The sub judice rule bars parallel litigation over the same cause of action, subject matter and relief between parties before courts of concurrent jurisdiction
Court orders
#- 1.The petition is dismissed with costs
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Articles 22, 258(1)(a) and 258(1)(c) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 (invoked by the petitioner)
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "Center for Litigation Trust v Sunnex Enterprises Limited & 8 others (Environment and Land Petition E004 of 2026) [2026] KEELC 4818 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2026). Not stated in the judgment. Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2026/4818/eng@2026-07-27
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.