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Original judgment

Njeri & 9 others v Ngure & another (Environment & Land Case 12 of 2023) [2024] KEELC 528 (KLR)

Njeri & 9 others v Ngure & another (Environment & Land Case 12 of 2023) [2024] KEELC 528 (KLR) (8 February 2024) (Judgment) Neutral citation: [2024] KEELC 528 (KLR) REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT MURANGA ENVIRONMENT & LAND CASE 12 OF 2023 LN GACHERU, J FEBRUARY 8, 2024 BETWEEN LOISE NJERI ......................................................................................... 1ST PLAINTIFF PETER KARIUKI ................................................................................ 2ND PLAINTIFF JOHNSON KARURU .......................................................................... 3RD PLAINTIFF JAMES IRUNGU MACHARIA .......................................................... 4TH PLAINTIFF MWANGI GATHEYU .......................................................................... 5TH PLAINTIFF PETER NDUNGU ................................................................................ 6TH PLAINTIFF DAVID MAINA GACHANGIRI ........................................................ 7TH PLAINTIFF EUNICE NYOKABI MUIRURI ......................................................... 8TH PLAINTIFF MBUTHIA KAHIGA ........................................................................... 9TH PLAINTIFF JOHN NGUGI MUIRURI ................................................................. 10TH PLAINTIFF AND KAMAU NGURE ........................................................................................ DECEASED AND JOSEPPH MAINA KAMAU .................................................................. SUBSTITUTE JUDGMENT 1. The Plaintifis herein filed this claim vide a Plaint dated 26th October 2012, and prayed for Judgement against the original Defendant (Kamau Ngure-deceased), for the following orders: - https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2024/528/eng@2024-02-08 1

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i. A permanent injunction to restrain the Defendant either by himself or through his agents, servants, employees, proxies or anyone acting on his behalf from trespassing, encroaching, selling, advertising or ofiering for sale or in any other way interfering with the Plaintifis’ quiet possession of all those parcels of land known as Maragua/ Ridge/259, Maragua/ Ridge/260, Maragua/Ridge/261, Maragua/Ridge/262, Maragua/ Ridge/263, Maragua/Ridge/264, Maragua/Ridge/265, Maragua/Ridge/266, Maragua/ Ridge/267, Maragua/Ridge/268 and Maragua/Ridge/269 . ii. The Defendant to pay costs of the suit. iii. Any other order or relief that this court may deem fit and just to grant. 2. The Plaintifis in their claim averred that on or about the year 1962, the Plaintifis were allocated by the Settlement Fund Trustees, all that parcel of land then known as Plot No. 39A, within Maragua Ridge, while the Defendant was allocated Plot No. 50, which bordered the Plaintifis’ land. 3. Further, that in the year 1968, the plot No. 39A, was subdivided into various plots, which were distributed among the Plaintifis herein as follows; a. 259 for Kibe Wanjohi b. 260 for Peter Kariuki c. 261 Jonson Karuru and Macharia Mbogo d. 262 for James Irungu Macharia & Macharia Mugo e. 263 for Public purpose f. 264 for Mwangi Gathenyu g. 265 for Peter Ndungu and Gathigo Gatune h. 266 for David Maina Gichingiri & Gichingiri Njima i. 267 for Eunice Nyokabi& Muiruri Njoroge j. 268 for Mbuthia Kahiga k. 269 for John Ngugi Muiruri & Francis Muiruri., and they were all named as Maragua/ Ridge 259- 269. 4. After the demise of Kamau Ngure(Defendant), an Application was filed on 27th November 2013, for substitution of the said Kamau Ngure(deceased) with Joseph Maina Kamau, the current Defendant herein. The said Application was allowed on 10th December 2023. 5. The Plaintifis also averred that as from 1962, they were living peacefully on their respective parcels of land, until August 2011, when Kamau Ngure (deceased), started making demands that the Plaintifis should vacate the suit plots as the same were located within the Defendant’s parcel of land No. Maragua/Ridge/50. 6. The Plaintifis also averred that the Defendant “discreetly interfered” with the Green Cards for the said parcels of land, Maragua/ Ridge 259-269, at the Murang’a Lands Ofice, and executed a forgery in the records therein resulting in the suit plots being subsumed into or combined with the Defendant’s parcel of land. Notwithstanding the foregoing averment, the Plaintifis averred that a search of the https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2024/528/eng@2024-02-08 2

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existing records in respect of the suit plots still shows that the said suit plots belong to the Settlement Fund Trustees, who holds the same on behalf of the Plaintifis. 7. The Plaintifis contended that in the Judgment of the High Court in Civil Case Number 252 of 1983 (Nyeri High Court), whereby, the Defendant (deceased), as a Plaintifi had accused the 5th, 8th and 9th Plaintifis herein, who were named as Defendants in that suit, of encroaching on his plot number Maragua/Ridge/50, has no bearing or nexus with the instant suit, as the Plaintifis have no claim whatsoever over plot number Maragua/Ridge/50. 8. The genesis of this dispute is traceable to the Judgment of the High Court in Civil Case Number 252 of 1983 (Nyeri High Court) delivered on 1st October 1999 whose import is that: the parcel of land LOC.17/Maragua Ridge/50 measures approximately 44 acres and belongs exclusively to the Defendant, Kamau Ngure. 9. In the above Civil Case Number 252 of 1983 (Nyeri High Court), the Defendant herein, Kamau Ngure(deceased), was the Plaintifi whereas, the 5th, 8th, 9th Plaintifis herein were all Defendants thereon. 10. The Final Order/Decree of the HCCC NO.252 of 1983, was as follows; “ It is hereby ordered a. The parcel of land LOC.7maragua/Ridge/50, which measures approximately 44 acres belongs exclusively to the Plaintifi. b. The Defendants, their families, servants and/or agents be evicted from parcel of land 100.17 Maragua/Ridge/50. c. M/S Matson Auctioneers And Court Bailifis are hereby authorized to evict and/or remove the said Defendants their families, servants and/or agents or anybody claiming interest under them and remove/demolish any movable or immovable properties belonging to them and put the Plaintifi therein.” 11. The Plaintifis further averred that on or about December 2012, the sons to the deceased Defendant (Kamau Ngure-deceased) entered unto the suit plots forcibly and asserted ownership over the same and started ploughing the land with the intention of evicting the Plaintifis from the suit plots. 12. The suit was opposed by Defendant, Kamau Ngure(deceased), vide his Defence dated 4th January 2013, wherein he averred that the process of excising the 11 suit plots from his parcel of land MARAGUA/ RIDGE/50, was nullified because it was found to have been illegal from the beginning and that his land parcel, MARAGUA/RIDGE/50, measures approximately 44 Acres. 13. The Defendant further averred that according to the policy applied by the Settlement Fund Trustees, in respect of the suit property, nobody was allocated two plots within the same settlement scheme, and the Plaintifis being beneficiaries of land on the same settlement scheme wherein Maragua/Ridge/50, is located cannot, and do not have a lawful or legitimate claim to the 11 suit plots. 14. He further averred that he had sued the 5th, 8th and 9th Plaintifis herein, Mwangi Gathaiyu (also Known As Mwangi Gatheyu), Mbuthia Kahiga And Muiruri Kamwaki in Nyeri HCCC Number 252 of 1983, for trespass, moving into his land parcel Maragua/Ridge/50, and settling therein and refusing to move out once the fiooding had subsided from their portions of land located in the lower part of the settlement scheme. 15. The Defendant also averred that, during the time of allocation of his plot No. Maragua/Ridge/50, to himself, one was required to state the reasons for which one was seeking the land and if one’s stated https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2024/528/eng@2024-02-08 3

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reason was “farming” only, one was allocated not more than 25 Acres and that that was what happened in the case of the Plaintifis or their predecessors in title. 16. In his statement, the Defendant stated the reason he was allocated Maragua/Ridge/50, measuring 44 Acres is because the stated reasons for seeking the land was “farming and grazing”. 17. This suit was originally filed at Nyeri High Court, later transferred to Nyeri ELC, and eventually vide an order dated 13th March 2023, the suit was transferred to this Court. It is evident that there were a number of interlocutory applications, wherein, one of it culminated in the suit being struck out for being Res-judicata, vide a Ruling of the Court dated 26th May 2016. 18. However, vide a judgement of the Court of Appeal dated 4th February 2022, the Ruling of the ELC Court that had stuck out the suit for being Res -judicata, was set aside and the Court of Appeal directed the suit to proceed for full hearing in respect of 1st ,2nd, 3rd, 4th 6th ,7th, and 10th Plaintifis. 19. However, the Court of Appeal upheld the Ruling and Order of ELC in Nyeri ELC CASE NO.423/ 2014, to the efiect that the suit was res-judicata in respect of the 5th, 8th, and 9th Plaintifis. 20. Consequently, the suit being declared Res-judicata, in respect of the 5th, 8th, and 9th Plaintifis meant that the said Plaintifis are not parties to this suit and none of them can give evidence as a Plaintifi or claim to be Plaintifi herein. 21. On the date of the hearing, the Plaintifis called one witness and closed their case. The Defendant too called one witness and closed his case. Plaintifis’ Case. 22. PW1, Mwangi Gatheyu, from Maragua Ridge Scheme gave evidence on behalf of the other Plaintifis relying on the “Authority to Act” dated… He adopted his Witness statement dated 26th October 2012, as his evidence in Chief. He also produced a list of documents as his P. EXHIBITS, in support of the case. He told the Court that the plot in issue is Plot No. 39A. 23. In Cross exam by counsel for the Defendant, he confirmed that there is a Civil Case in Nyeri High Court, wherein he is the 1st Defendant. That the other Defendants are Muiruri and Mbuthia, who were also Plaintifis in this case, and the said case is now determined, and was decided against them. 24. He identified the decree of the High Court, Nyeri, but denied that they were ordered to vacate the suit land, but he also told the Court that there is a pending Appeal, which has not been decided. He did not give the Court of Appeal Case Number. 25. It was his evidence that some of the Plaintifis are deceased, such as Loice Njeri, Peter Kariuki, James Irungu Macharia, Mbuthia Kahiga and John Ngugi Muiruri. He also testified that they have not been substituted. 26. It was his further evidence that Maragua Ridge Settlement Scheme was set up in 1962, and he was among the first settlers and his land parcel is No. 28. He confirmed that Kamau Ngure’s land is Maragua Ridge 50, which is 34.4 acres, and the Plaintifis were resettled because of fiooding. 27. He denied that they have encroached on the Defendants land, but he claimed the Plaintifis were resettled on plot No 39A, because their land was water logged. He confirmed that they did not pay for the resettlement, and their resettled land is No 39A. https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2024/528/eng@2024-02-08 4

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28. In re- exam, he confirmed that some of the Plaintifis are deceased, but he stated that their children were in Court. It was his evidence that Plot No. 28, was his, but it was waterlogged, and so he was resettled in plot No. 39A. That he cultivates on plot No 28, which is 13.5 acres, but plot No. 39A, is 11.6 acres. Defendant’s Case. 29. DW1, Joseph Maina Kamau, from Maragua Ridge told the Court that Kamau Ngure, was his father and is the Defendant herein, but now deceased. That he was substituted, in place of his father, who had been sued by the Plaintifis. He recorded his Witness statement, which he adopted as his evidence together with the Witness Statement of Kamau Ngure dated 14th January 2013. 30. He also produced the bundle of documents as his D. Exhibts 1-15. He confirmed that there was a judgement of the Court of Appeal, which he relied on entirely and produced it as D. Exhbit 16. 31. It was his evidence that plot no Maragua Ridge 50, no longer exist as it was subdivided into various parcels of land, which are owned by his siblings. 32. In cross exam, he confirmed that he is the administrator of his father’s estate, though he did not have the said letters of administration with him in Court. He confirmed that plot No 50, was in the name of Kamau Ngure, although it is now in the name of his children. 33. He further told the Court that his father’s plot is No 50, but the Plaintifis are claiming plot No. 39A, which he did not know about, or even its size. He also told the Court that he did not know about the case filed in 1983, by his father, Kamau Ngure. He denied that they have evicted the Plaintifis from the suit land. 34. In re-exam, he confirmed that he has come to represent his father who is deceased, and he is the one who was allotted plot No 50. He confirmed that he has documents to show that the plot for his father was plot No 50. 35. He testified that his father was not paid to excise 11.4acres, from his parcel of land, Plot No 50, and he was not ordered to give the Plaintifis the 11.4acres. He however testified that he has tried to evict the Plaintifis to no avail. 36. After the close of viva voce evidence, the parties filed their respective written submissions as directed by the court. The Plaintifis filed their submissions on 31st August 2023, through B.M. Musyoka & Co Advocates, and urged the Court to allow their claim. On his part, the Defendant filed his submissions on 4th September 2023, through Kabuka Wachira & Co Advocates, and urged the court to dismiss the Plaintifis’ suit with costs. 37. The Court has considered the available evidence and the written submissions and finds the issues for determination are as follows: I. Whether the suit has abated in respect to the Plaintifis herein who are deceased. II. Whether the 5th Plaintifi can properly represent the seven Plaintifis in this suit whose claim was held by the Court of Appeal not to be res judicata. III. Whether there was an excision of 11.4 Acres, from plot number MARAGUA/RIDGE/50, to create plot number MARAGUA/RIDGE/39A or the 11 suit plots; and if yes, whether the same were lawfully created. https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2024/528/eng@2024-02-08 5

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Issue Number 1 I. Whether the suit has abated in respect to the Plaintifis herein who are deceased. 38. The suit herein was filed by the ten Plaintifis in 2012. Thereafter, the suit was struck out for being res judicata by the Nyeri ELC, on 26th May 2016. However, on 4th February 2022, the Court of Appeal set aside that Ruling, and only upheld res judicata against the 5th, 8th and 9th Plaintifis. In the course of the hearing, PW1, confirmed some of the Plaintifis are deceased and have not been substituted. The deceased Plaintifis are Loise Njeri, 1st pfi, James Irungu Macharia, 4th pfi, Mbuthia Kahiga, 9th Pfi & John Ngugi Muiruri, 10th pfi. He also confirmed that the said deceased Plaintifis have not been substituted in this suit by their legal administrators. 39. Order 24. Rule 3(1) of the Civil Procedure Rules provides as follows: “ Where one of two or more Plaintifis dies and the cause of action does not survive or continue to the surviving Plaintifi or Plaintifis alone, or a sole Plaintifi or sole surviving Plaintifi dies and the cause of action survives or continues, the court, on an application made on that behalf, shall cause the legal representative of the deceased Plaintifi to be made a party and shall proceed with the suit.” 40. Order 24. Rule 3(2) of the Civil Procedure Rules, also provides as follows: “ Where within one year no application is made under sub-rule (1), the suit shall abate so far as the deceased Plaintifi is concerned, and, on the application of the defendant, the court may award him costs which he may have incurred in defending the suit to be recovered from the estate of the deceased Plaintifi: Provided the court may, for good reason on application, extend the time.” And again, Order 24. Rule 7(1) of the Civil Procedure Rules provides as follows: “ Where a suit abates or is dismissed under this Order, no fresh suit shall be brought on the same cause of action.” 41. The foregoing provisions of the law are self-executing; meaning that they take efiect within a year of the death of the Plaintifi if no application for joinder or substitution is made in the suit. 42. During the hearing of this suit on 17th July 2023, the Plaintifis’ witness testified that 1st, 4th, and 10th Plaintifis had died more than a year to the aforesaid hearing. However, PW1 told the Court that the deceased Plaintifis had not been substituted, but alleged that their children were in court, and he did not present any documentary evidence such as death certificates of the three Plaintifis in order for the Court to ascertain the date of their demise. 43. Notwithstanding the absence of death certificates or other documentary proof demonstrating that the 1st, 4th, and 10th Plaintifis died more than a year to the hearing this suit on 17th July 2023, the testimony of the Plaintifis’ witness as to the deaths of the three aforementioned Plaintifis has not been controverted. 44. Without substitution of the deceased Plaintifis, the Court finds that as provided by Order 24(3)(2), the suit by the said deceased Plaintifis has abated as against the Defendant herein. See the case of Said Sweilem Gheithan Saanum vs. Commissioner of Lands & 5 Others (2015) eKLR, where the Court https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2024/528/eng@2024-02-08 6

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of Appeal explained the provisions of Order 24 of the Civil Procedure Rules, 2010, and stated that where no application for substitution of a deceased person was made within one year, or within the time extended by leave of the Court, the suit shall abate. 45. Accordingly, the Court finds and holds that the suit has abated in respect of the 1st, 4th, and 10th Plaintifis herein, who have not been substituted by their legal administrators in the suit following their deaths. For the suit to stand, the deceased Plaintifis ought to have been substituted. Further in the above quoted case of Said Sweilem Gheithan Saanum v Commissioner of Lands (being sued through Attorney General) & 5 others [2015] eKLR, the court held as hereunder; “There are three stages according to these provisions. As a general rule the death of a plaintifi does not cause the suit to abate if the cause of action survives. But within one year of the death of the plaintifi or within such time as the court may in its discretion for “good reason” determine, an application must be made for the legal representative of the deceased plaintifi to be made a party. The “good reason” therefore relates to application for extension of time to join the plaintifi’s legal representative to the suit. Secondly, if no such application is made within one year or within the time extended by leave of the court, the suit shall abate. Where a suit abates no fresh suit can be brought on the same cause of action.” ii) Whether the 5th Plaintifi can properly represent the seven Plaintifis in this suit whose claim was held not to be res judicata by the Court of Appeal. 46. There is Court of Appeal Judgement dated 4th February 2022, wherein, the instant suit was declared res judicata, in respect to the 5th, 8th and 9th Plaintifis herein. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Plaintifis herein authorized the 5th Plaintifi to prosecute the subject suit on their behalf by executing a form titled “Authority to Act” dated 26th October 2012, and the same was filed on record. With the said Judgement of the Court of Appeal, the 5th Plaintifi Mwangi Gatheyu is not a Plaintifi nor a Party to the suit. The said “Authority to Act” had been given to Mwangi Gatheyu, as a 5th Plaintifi. 47. The 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th Plaintifis, have entrusted the 5th Plaintifi MWANGI GATHEYU, with the authority to execute, sign, prepare, draw and depone to all documents in respect of the present suit and to do all that is necessary on behalf of these Plaintifis in prosecuting or taking proceedings in the instant suit. The aforesaid “Authority to Act” was given to the 5th Plaintifi, because he was a party to the suit. Even in his evidence in court, he testified like an aggrieved party. He did not testify like an agent of the Plaintifis or a person who had “Power of Attorney” to represent the Plaintifis. 48. What is the efiect of a suit being declared res judicata? The doctrine of res judicata is a bar to future litigation. Once the suit in respect of the 5th Plaintifi was declared res judicata, it meant the 5th Plaintifi is no longer a party to the suit and has no standing in this suit. Without standing or locus standi, the 5th Plaintifi could not address the Court as the main Plaintifi in the case. See the case of Law Society https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2024/528/eng@2024-02-08 7

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of Kenya…Vs… Commissioner of Lands & Others, Nakuru High Court Civil Case No.464 of 2000, where the Court held as follows: “ Locus Standi signifies a right to be heard, a person must have suficiency of interest to sustain his standing to sue in Court of Law”. Further in the case of Alfred Njau and Others -VsCity Council of Nairobi [1982] KAR 229, the Court also held that: “the term Locus Standi means a right to appear in Court and conversely to say that a person has no Locus Standi means that he has no right to appear or be heard in such and such proceedings”. 49. A party to a suit is one who has a claim. See the case of Zephir Holdings ltd vs Mimosa Plantations ltd & another (2014) eklr, where the court held; ‘’ A proper party is one who is impleaded in the suit and qualifies the thresholds of a plaintifi or defendant under Order 1 rules 1&2 respectively or a third party…” The 5th Plaintifi having been removed from the suit vide the Court of Appeal Judgement, could therefore not give evidence for all the Plaintifis as he has no Locus standi. What the Plaintifis should have done is to call Mwangi Gatheyu, as one of their witness, but not the Plaintifi with Authority to Act for all the Plaintifis. 50. Therefore, this Court finds and holds that Mwangi Gatheyu, who was initially a 5th Plaintifi before his claim was declared res judicata cannot properly represent the Plaintifis herein. In that regards, his evidence is disregarded. iii) Whether there was an excision of 11.4 Acres from plot number Maragua/Ridge/50, to create plot number Maragua/Ridge /39A or the 11 suit plots; and if yes, whether the same were lawfully created and are, therefore, subsisting. 51. The Court has disregarded the evidence adduced by PW1, on the fact that he has no standing in Court to give evidence as a Plaintifi, since he is no longer a party to the suit. That notwithstanding, the court is obligated to decide the suit on merit since the Defendant denied the suit and gave evidence in Court. 52. The Plaintifis are the ones who has alleged, and the onus of proof is upon them. See Section 107 & 108 of the Evidence Act, which provides: 107. 108. Burden of proof. (1) Whoever desires any court to give judgment as to any legal right or liability dependent on the existence of facts which he asserts must prove that those facts exist. (2) When a person is bound to prove the existence of any fact it is said that the burden of proof lies on that person. Incidence of burden. The burden of proof in a suit or proceeding lies on that person who would fail if no evid 53. The burden of proof is on the person who would lose a claim or be prejudiced if no evidence is adduced at all. In this case, the burden of proof is upon the Plaintifis herein. See case of Mbuthia Macharia vs Annah Mutua & another (2017)eklr, where the court held:” as the weight of evidence given by either side varies, so will the evidential burden shift to the party who would fail without further evidence. 54. Since the Plaintifis main witness, was disregarded, the Court finds and holds that the Plaintifis did not avail evidence in court. Therefore, the Court will consider the pleadings, and written submissions only https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2024/528/eng@2024-02-08 8

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as availed by the Plaintifis advocate. The Court too will consider the defence, the anextures thereto and the written submissions by the Defendant in arriving at its determination. 55. The Plaintifis in their statement of claim had alleged that they were allocated Plot No 39A, within Maragua Ridge which was next to Plot No 50, after their land got waterlogged. The Plaintifis had attached several letters, from the Ministry of lands to support their allegations. However, this allegation was denied by the Defendant, who testified that the Plaintifis have wrongly encroached onto his land. 56. These allegations by the Plaintifis could only be proved or ascertained by calling oficials or witnesses from the Ministry of lands to elaborate on the said documents attached to the Plaintifis claim. This Court has noted that the Defendant annexed and produced a bundle of documents filed on 14th November 2022, which contained a letter from the Director of Land Adjudication and Settlement addressed to the Director of Surveys and dated 28th April 2011, which reads as follows: “ … As per Nyeri High court letter ref.no. NYR/HCCC.252/1983 dated 11th May 2010 (copy attached) plot no.50 measured 44 acres and exclusively belonged to the Plaintifi (the allottee). The purpose of this letter therefore is to request you to authorize the district surveyorMurang’a to cancel the said mutation forms and the subsequent amendment of the R.I.M. This will revert to the original R.I.M. sheet 2(135/3/4). The final area list will also be revised to correspond with the revised ground occupation. Kindly authorize the district surveyor accordingly.” 57. Further the Defendant had annexed a communication titled “Discharge and Transfer Document for Plot 50 – Maragwa Ridge Scheme” authored by the Director of Land Adjudication and Settlement and addressed to the District Land Settlement and Adjudication Oficer (Thika) dated 2nd February 2011, which reads in relevant part as follows: “ The Scheme (Nyeri HCCC No. 252 of 1983) was concluded and no notice of appeal had been filed by 11th May 2010 (see letter from High Court of Kenya attached). You may proceed to release the discharge of charge and transfer documents for plot 50.” 58. From the foregoing two communications by the Director of Land Adjudication and Settlement addressed to the Director of Surveys and his/her oficers, it is clear that the creation of the 11 suit plots was reversed by the appropriate authorities upon receipt of the Judgment and Decree of the High Court (Nyeri) in Civil Case Number 252 of 1983 (Nyeri High Court), and the title thereof discharged to the Original Defendant in this suit. 59. This Court finds and holds that there exist no subsequent events to the outcome in Civil Case Number 252 of 1983 (Nyeri High Court), that could alter the position as regards the actual acreage of plot number MARAGUA/RIDGE/50, which remains 44 Acres, and the fact that the High Court in Nyeri had held and found that the suit land herein belonged to Kamau Ngure(deceased). If the Plaintifis wanted the court to believe that they were indeed given the 11.4 acres from Plot No, 39A, allegedly curved from Plot No 50, they should have called suficient evidence to prove how plot No 39A, came into being, and how they were later allotted the same. 60. That evidence could only have come from the Ministry of Lands or the Land Registrar, Murang’a. The Plaintifis did not find it necessary to call these crucial witnesses who could have given history of these disputed parcels of land, and whether indeed they were allocated the said parcels of land because of fiooding. https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2024/528/eng@2024-02-08 9

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61. Without evidence of the crucial or necessary witnesses, the Court finds and holds that the Plaintifis have failed to prove their case on the required standard of balance of probabilities. (v) who should bear costs of this suit? 62. Ordinarily costs are granted at the discretion of the Court, but it is trite that costs follow the event and is granted to the successful litigant. The Plaintifis’ suit has been found and held not merited, and therefore, the Defendant is the successful litigant and is thus entitled to costs. However, due the circumstances of this case and the fact that the case has taken too long in the Judicial system, the Court directs each party to bear his/ her own costs. 63. Ultimately, the court finds and holds that the Plaintifis have failed to prove their case on the required standard of balance of probabilities. For the above reasons, “the Plaintifis” suit is dismissed entirely, with an order that each party to bear his/ her own costs. 64. It is so ordered. DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY AT MURANG’A THIS 8TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024 L. GACHERU JUDGE Delivered virtually in the presence of; 1st Plaintifi 2nd Plaintifi 3rd Plaintifi 4th Plaintifi Mr Kassimu for the 6th Plaintifi 7th Plaintifi 10th Plaintifi M/s Maina H/B for Kebuka Wachira for the Defendant Joel Njonjo - Court Assistant L. GACHERU JUDGE. 8/2/2024 https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2024/528/eng@2024-02-08 10

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