Chunky Limited v Kenya Railways Corporation (Environment and Land Petition E010 of 2025) [2026] KEELC 5230 (KLR)
The bottom line
#A Kenyan court granted a landlocked business immediate access to its property through a Kenya Railways underpass, but sent it to the National Land Commission to formalise the right of way.
What this practically means
#Executive summary
#Key legal issues
#Whether the preliminary objection met the threshold of a preliminary objection
The objection raised a pure point of law as it challenged jurisdiction, and therefore met the threshold
The court set out the classic test from Mukisa Biscuits and John Musakali: a preliminary objection must be a pure point of law on facts that are agreed or clearly implied from the pleadings. It found the jurisdictional challenge, based on the National Land Commission's statutory mandate over rights of way, satisfied this test, relying on Yudaya Lutta Musoke for the principle that objections founded purely on law and argued on the face of pleadings are justifiable.
Whether the court lacked jurisdiction and whether the doctrine of exhaustion barred the suit
The objection was disallowed; the court had jurisdiction despite the NLC's statutory role, because exceptional circumstances justified exemption from the doctrine of exhaustion
Although Sections 143-146 of the Land Act place creation of public rights of way with the National Land Commission, the court found the Applicant was not seeking a fresh public right of way but restoration of access to its own land via an existing underpass. It held the NLC cannot grant interlocutory or mandatory injunctions, and the livelihoods dependent on the industrial park constituted special circumstances warranting exemption from exhaustion.
Whether the suit was time barred under Section 87(b) of the Kenya Railways Corporation Act
The limitation defence failed; the Applicant had engaged in negotiations and the claim raised constitutional and statutory duty issues
The court noted that courts have interpreted Section 87(b) in light of Article 48 on access to justice, citing the Court of Appeal in Joseph Nyamamba v Kenya Railways. Since the Applicant had negotiated with the Respondent before suing, and the claim concerned denial of access and an unconstitutional monetary precondition rather than a tort claim for damages, it would be a grave injustice to bar the claim.
Whether the temporary (mandatory injunction) orders sought could issue
The orders issued: a prima facie case was established and the balance of convenience tilted towards the Applicant
Applying Joseph Kaloki and Kenya Breweries v Okeyo, the court acknowledged mandatory injunctions at interlocutory stage require special circumstances. It found the circumstances special because the compulsorily acquisition left the Applicant's remaining parcel landlocked, threatening an industrial park employing over 200 workers. Guided also by Section 149 of the Land Act and the County Government of Meru case on the economic importance of access, the court found a prima facie case and granted access pending determination of the Petition.
Legal principles established
#- A preliminary objection must be founded on a pure point of law, on facts not in dispute
- Jurisdiction is the lifeline of a case; without it a court must down its tools
- The doctrine of exhaustion admits exceptions where the statutory remedy is unsuitable, inadequate or its pursuit would be futile
- A mandatory injunction may be granted at interlocutory stage where special circumstances are demonstrated
Court orders
#- 1.The Preliminary Objection dated 21st November, 2025 raised by the Defendant be and is hereby disallowed
- 2.The Notice of Motion application dated 9th June, 2025 be and is hereby found to be meritorious and hence allowed as prayed
- 3.Pending hearing and determination of the Petition, a temporary order directing the Respondent to grant the Applicant and its agents full unimpeded access to Plot MN/VI/909 via the DK 100 bridge under pass to enable the Applicant to continue its industrial park operations
- 4.The Applicant to file an application for creation of a Right of Way by the Respondent to the National Land Commission within the next 14 days
- 5.In the meantime, the instant proceedings are stayed pending the outcome of the dispute before the National Land Commission, with the interim orders remaining in place until then
- 6.Mention on 11th November, 2026 to ascertain full compliance of these orders, the progress made and further directions
- 7.Each party to bear its own costs
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Article 165(2)(b) of the Constitution and Section 13(1) of the Environment and Land Court Act
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "Chunky Limited v Kenya Railways Corporation (Environment and Land Petition E010 of 2025) [2026] KEELC 5230 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2026). Not stated in the judgment. Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2026/5230/eng@2026-07-21
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.