George Karongo Kagunya & 1 other v Njuguna Kibaki Munga

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL AT NAIROBI (CORAM: KOOME, WARSAME, ASIKE-MAKHANDIA, JJ.A.) CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 68 OF 2019 BETWEEN GEORGE KARONGO KAGUNYA ............................1ST APPLICANT KANGUNYA KIBAKI.................................................2ND APPLICANT AND NJUGUNA KIBAKI MUNGA ........................................RESPONDENT (An application for stay of execution to file and serve the Notice of Appeal in an intended Appeal from a judgement of the High Court of Kenya at Nairobi (Justice E.O. Obaga) dated 17th May, 2018 in ELC APPEAL NO. 83 OF 2016) ************************* RULING OF THE COURT 1. The Notice of Motion dated 28th February 2019 made under Rule 4 and 5(2)(b) of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2010, Article 47 and Article 50(1) of the Constitution, section 1(A), 3 and 3 (A) of the Civil Procedure Rules is for stay of execution against the judgement of the Environment and Land Court (Obaga, J.) dated 17th May, 2018 in ELC Appeal No. 83 of 2016 upholding the orders of the Kiambu Land Disputes Tribunal on the respondent’s claim on the land parcel LR. No. Kiambaa/Kihara/2350. 2. The 2nd applicant and the respondent are brothers who inherited land parcel LR No. Kiambaa/Kihara/1227 and the issue before the superior court on a second appeal from the Land Disputes Appeal Committee was whether the respondent was entitled to a share of their father’s property which had been given to them by their mother and registered in the 2nd applicant’s name, the 1st applicant’s son. The superior court in a second appeal made the conclusion that what remained of LR. No. 1227 after sub division of the land parcel being LR. No. Kiambaa/Kihara/2350 was held in trust for the respondent. The superior court found no merit in the applicant’s appeal and judgment was entered in favour of the respondent with costs. 3. Aggrieved, the applicants pending the hearing and determination of their intended appeal lodged a Notice of Appeal on 14th June, 2018 challenging the judgement delivered on 17th May, 2018. The applicants have since attributed their delay in filing and serving a Record of Appeal to a letter dated 24th May 2018 seeking for certified copy of proceedings from the superior court which is yet to be replied. We also note that there was no response from the respondent on the arguments raised in favour of the orders herein sought. 4. We have considered the application along with materials and arguments in support thereof placed before us. The applicant’s appeal to the Environment and Land Court against the decision of the Land Disputes Appeals Committee wherein the Environment and Land Court found thus; “Since there was evidence that the 2nd appellant held the land in trust for his brother, there was nothing wrong in ordering That L.R No. Kiambaa/ Kihara/2350 be transferred to the respondent. I therefore do not find any merit in this appeal which is hereby dismissed with costs to the respondent.” 5. The applicant is required to satisfy this Court on the twin limbs that; the intended appeal is arguable and not frivolous and; that if stay is not granted, the intended appeal, if successful, would be rendered nugatory, (See Githunguri v Jimba Corporation Limited (1988) KLR 838) and Northwood Development Company Limited v Husein Alibhai Pirbhai & 2 Others [2015] eKLR). The applicant is also required to demonstrate whether an order of dismissal of a suit can be stayed. (See George Ole Sangui & 12 Others v Kedong Ranch Limited [2015]

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