Musa (Suing as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Amina Chepkemboi Mwalimu – Deceased) v Rotich & 8 others (Environment and Land Case 89 of 2021) [2026] KEELC 1690 (KLR)

2. In response to the suit, the 3rd 4th 5th and 8th defendants through Rotich Langat and Partners Advocates raised a notice of preliminary objection dated 17th March 2026 based on the grounds, inter alia; a. That the Plaintifi lacks Locus Standi to institute and/or prosecute this suit since she has neither beneficiary nor ownership interests having been ousted by the Kadhi’s court in the primary succession. b. That the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th Defendants reply on the Court of Appeal decision on the meaning and scope of locus standi in the case of Rugiri -vs- Kinuthia & 3 others (2024) KECA 1601 (KLR) where it stated that “Locus Standi is cardinal in civil proceedings because without it, a party lacks the right to institute and/or maintain the suit even where a valid cause of action subsists. It can be equated to a court acting without jurisdiction… Locus Standi concerns the suficiency and directness of a litigant’s interest in proceedings which warrants his or her title to prosecute the claim asserted, and should be one of the first things to establish in a litigation”. c. That the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th Defendants rely on the Black’s Law Dictionar5y, 9th Edition definition of locus standi as “the right to bring an action or to be heard in a given forum” and the decision in Alfred Njau and Others -vs- City Council of Nairobi [1982] KAR 229 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” d. Consequently, the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th Defendants pray that this suit be dismissed with costs to the defendants for being an abuse of the court process and for the grounds listed above. 3. Mr. Rotich learned counsel for the defendants has sought to withdraw the preliminary objection. He stated that the defendants wish to reserve the issues in their statement of defence in lieu of proceeding with the preliminary objection. 4. Mr. Oduto Kongani and Joan Koech learned counsel for the plaintifi and 9th defendant respectively, have no objection to the withdrawal of the preliminary objection. 5. I have taken note of the issues raised in the parties’ respective pleadings and the preliminary objection. 6. It is trite law that parties are at liberty to withdraw a matter before court and the court has the power to have it withdrawn; see Asanyo & others vs Attorney General ({2020} KESC 62 (KLR). 7. Furthermore, the withdrawal of the preliminary objection in this matter is aimed at paving way for the hearing of the suit in the spirit of Article 159 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 which reads; Justice shall not be delayed. 8. In the circumstances, the 3rd 4th 5 and 8th defendants deserve to with withdraw the preliminary objection. 9. Accordingly, the preliminary objection dated 17th March 2026 is hereby marked as withdrawn with no orders as to costs. 10. It is so ordered. DATED AND DELIVERED AT KAPSABET THIS 23RD DAY OF MARCH 2026. HON. G.M.A. ONG’ONDO JUDGE https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2026/1690/eng@2026-03-23 2

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In the presence of; Mr. Udoto Kongani learned counsel for the plaintifi Mr. Moses Rotich learned counsel for the 3rd 4th 5th and 9th defendants Ms. Joan Koech learned counsel for the 9th defendant Walter - Court Assistant https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2026/1690/eng@2026-03-23 3

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