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Original judgment

Amudavi & another v Ambani (Sued Through His Personal Representative/Administratrix Gladys Maraga Alias Maraka); Sakha & another (Interested Parties)

Amudavi & another v Ambani (Sued Through His Personal Representative/Administratrix Gladys Maraga Alias Maraka); Sakha & another (Interested Parties) (Environment & Land Case 23 of 2019) [2023] KEELC 21142 (KLR) (31 October 2023) (Ruling) Neutral citation: [2023] KEELC 21142 (KLR) REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT KAKAMEGA ENVIRONMENT & LAND CASE 23 OF 2019 DO OHUNGO, J OCTOBER 31, 2023 BETWEEN AIRIS MINYIKHA AMUDAVI .......................................................... 1ST CLAIMANT ACHAYO JOSEPHINE OKECHI ...................................................... 2ND CLAIMANT AND JAIRO SAKHA AMBANI (SUED THROUGH HIS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE/ADMINISTRATRIX GLADYS MARAGA ALIAS MARAKA) ............................................................................................. RESPONDENT AND MICHAEL MUSUKU SAKHA ............................................... INTERESTED PARTY GLADYS SHANYISA W/O JOSEPH SHISAKHA ................. INTERESTED PARTY RULING 1. Proceedings in this matter were commenced through originating summons (OS) dated March 26, 2019 wherein the claimants/plaintis averred that they were entitled by adverse possession to 0.07 hectares of the parcel of land known as Tiriki/Cheptulu/805 (the suit property). They therefore prayed for the following: 1. Determination of the question as to whether or not the Claimants herein (especially the 1st Claimant) have become entitled to a 0.07 Hectare portion of land parcel number Tiriki/ Cheptulu/805 (as delineated and bordered red on the sketch map annexed to the Claimants’ supporting adavit and marked “SAL-2”) by adverse possession. 2. Issuance of a declaratory order that the 1st Claimant herein has acquired ownership of a 0.07 Hectare portion of land parcel number Tiriki/Cheptulu/805 (as delineated and bordered red https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2023/21142/eng@2023-10-31 1

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on the sketch map annexed to the Claimants’ supporting adavit and marked “SAL-2”) by adverse possession and is therefore entitled to be registered as the owner thereof in place of the Respondent. 3. 4. Issuance of an order as against the Respondent for the subdivision of land parcel number Tiriki/Cheptulu/805 in such a way as to have the aforesaid 0.07 Hectare portion hived therefrom and either: i. To have the said 0.07 Hectare portion transferred direct to the 2nd Claimant herein, Achayo Josephine Okechi, to hold thereunto as the absolute registered owner in the place of the 1st Claimant; or ii. In the alternative, and only if prayer 3 (i) above cannot be granted, to have the said 0.07 Hectare portion transferred to the 1st Claimant to hold thereunto as the absolute registered owner in the rst instance and to thereafter transfer the said portion to the 2nd Claimant. That costs of this suit be provided for. 2. The respondent led memorandum of appearance on April 16, 2019. Thereafter, on 24th April 2019, the parties led a written consent settling the case by entering judgment in terms of prayers 2 and 3 (i) of the OS with further order that the claimants/plaintis were to meet all the expenses of subdividing the suit property and transferring the 0.07 hectares portion to them. Each party was to meet own costs of the suit. The consent was adopted on May 14, 2019 and a decree issued on May 17, 2019. 3. The matter then remained dormant until May 31, 2023 when notice of motion dated May 31, 2023 was led by the above named intended interested parties. This ruling is in respect of the said Notice of Motion. 4. The following orders are sough in the notice of motion: 1. That this application be certied as urgent and be heard exparte in the 1st instance. 2. That in the interim there be a stay of the orders made in this matter on 14/5/2019 vide a consent dated 24/4/2019, and any execution of the aforesaid orders pending the hearing and determination of this application. 3. That in the interim the proceedings led at Hamisi Senior Principal Magistrates Court being Hamisi Succession Cause No. 21 of 2017 be stayed pending further orders from this Court. 4. That upon grant of prayer 2 above the applicant herein Michael Musuku Sakha and Gladys Shanyisa w/o Joseph Shisakha be enjoined in this matters (sic) as interested parties. 5. That for the purpose of expeditions hearing and determination of this matter, the above le i.e. Kakamega ELC No 23 of 2019, ELC No 24 of 2029 and ELC No 25 of 2019 be consolidated and le Number Kakamega ELC No 23 of 2019 be the lead le. 6. That the consent dated 24/4/2019 and adopted by the Court on 14/5/2019 be set aside and the matter be reopened and be heard viva voce and denovo (sic). 7. That the plainti and the defendant be restrained from further intermeddling with all that parcel of land known then as Tiriki/Cheptulu/805 and the resultant numbers being Tiriki/ Cheptulu/1743, 1744, 1745 and 1746 belonging to the deceased estate of Jairo Sakha Ambani by transferring, taking occupation, utilizing, developing and in any way dealing with the same pending the hearing and determination of the proceedings herein. https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2023/21142/eng@2023-10-31 2

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8. That cost of the application be provided for. 5. The application is supported by an adavit sworn by Michael Musuku Sakha, the rst applicant. It is opposed through a replying adavit sworn by Achayo Josephine Okechi, the second claimant and another replying adavit sworn by Gladys Maraga alias Maraka, the respondent. 6. The application was canvassed through written submissions which the applicants, claimants and respondents duly led. I have considered application, the adavits, and submissions. The issue for determination is whether the reliefs sought should issue. 7. From the onset, it must be noted that the applicants are not parties in this suit. The suit was concluded on May 14, 2019 upon adoption of the consent. At the time the OS was led, the respondent was the administratrix of the estate of Jairo Sakha Ambani (deceased). The applicants have deposed in the adavit in support of the application that she remains the administratrix. the rst applicant contends that he is a son of the deceased while the second applicant is a widow of the deceased’s son. They claim that the consent was obtained through fraud, non-disclosure of material facts and without involving other beneciaries within the deceased’s estate. 8. As has been repeatedly held, fraud is a serious allegation that must be pleaded and proved to a standard above balance of probabilities but not beyond reasonable doubt. See Kuria Kiarie & 2 others v Sammy Magera [2018] eKLR and John Mbogua Getao v Simon Parkoyiet Mokare & 4 others [2017] eKLR. Beyond the allegations of fraud, the applicants have not oered any proof to the requisite standard. 9. It is manifest that the present application is an oshoot of disputes within the deceased’s estate. The applicants should resolve such disputes within the succession cause in respect of the deceased’s estate. 10. I nd no merit in notice of motion dated May 31, 2023 and I therefore dismiss it. In view of the relationship between the parties, I make no order as to costs. DATED, SIGNED, AND DELIVERED AT KAKAMEGA THIS 31ST DAY OF OCTOBER 2023. D. O. OHUNGO JUDGE Delivered in open court in the presence of: No appearance by the First Plainti/Claimant The Second Plainti/Claimant present No appearance by the Defendant/Respondent Mr Owuor holding brief for Mr Mshindi for the Applicants https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2023/21142/eng@2023-10-31 3

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