Kirui & 17 others v Factory & 4 others (Constitutional Petition E004 of 2026) [2026] KEHC 9268 (KLR) (30 June 2026) (Ruling) Neutral citation: [2026] KEHC 9268 (KLR) REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT AT BOMET CONSTITUTIONAL PETITION E004 OF 2026 JK NG'ARNG'AR, J JUNE 30, 2026 1,2,3,10,19,20,21,22,23,24,27,18,35,38,47,4830,33,75,159,165,174,232,249 AND 258 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA, 2010 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA (PROTECTION OF RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS) PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE RULES, 2013 AND IN THE MATTER OF FAIR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ACT, NO. 4 OF 2015 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE ACCESS OF INFORMATION ACT, NO. 31 OF 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE LEADERSHIP AND INTEGRITY ACT, NO. 19 OF 2012 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE TEA ACT, NO. 23 OF 2020 AND IN THE MATTER OF COMPANIES ACT, NO. 17 OF 2015 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS ACT, NO. 23 OF 2013 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS ETHICS ACT, NO. 4 OF 2003 AND IN THE MATTER OF CONTRAVENTION OF CONSTUTUTIONAL PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, FAIR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, PUBLIC https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2026/9268/eng@2026-06-30 1
page 1 of 3
PARTICIPATION, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, LEGITIMATE EXPECTATION, FAIR REPRESENTATION, ELECTORAL JUSTICE AND RULE OF LAW AND IN THE MATTER OF THE UNLAWFUL CREATION OF THE ALLEGED MUGANGO/ TIRGAGA ZONE AND ILLEGAL ALTERATION, TRANSFER AND INTERFERENCE WITH TEA BUYING CENTRES WITHIN TIRGAGA TEA FACTORY ELECTORAL STRUCTURE BETWEEN ROBERT K. KIRUI .......................................................................... 1ST PETITIONER LEONARD KIPLANGAT MUTAI ................................................. 2ND PETITIONER KIRUI WESLY .................................................................................. 3RD PETITIONER GEOFFREY KIPKOECH MUTAI ................................................... 4TH PETITIONER ALEX RONO .................................................................................... 5TH PETITIONER BERNARD NGENO ........................................................................ 6TH PETITIONER COSMAS KIPNGETICH KIGEN ................................................... 7TH PETITIONER SAMWEL KIPKIRUI KENDUIWA ............................................... 8TH PETITIONER CHEPKEMEOI BETTY ................................................................... 9TH PETITIONER ZAKATO KOECH .......................................................................... 10TH PETITIONER JOSEPH CHERUIYOT .................................................................. 11TH PETITIONER ROBERT KIPLANGAT RUTO .................................................... 12TH PETITIONER BENARD KOECH .......................................................................... 13TH PETITIONER DAVID KIPLANGAT KIRUI ....................................................... 14TH PETITIONER STEPHEN MUTAI ......................................................................... 15TH PETITIONER RONO BENARD ............................................................................ 16TH PETITIONER PRISCILLA BELYON .................................................................... 17TH PETITIONER ERICK MUTAI ............................................................................... 18TH PETITIONER AND THE FACTORY UNIT MANAGER, TIRGAGA TEA FACTORY .... 1ST RESPONDENT THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, KTDA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LTD .................................................................................................. 2ND RESPONDENT THE COMPANY SECRETARY, KTDA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LTD .................................................................................................. 3RD RESPONDENT TEA BOARD OF KENYA ............................................................. 4TH RESPONDENT AND https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2026/9268/eng@2026-06-30 2
page 2 of 3
INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL AND BOUNDARIES COMMISSION .......................................................................... INTERESTED PARTY RULING 1. This is a Ruling to the Preliminary Objection herein dated 25/6/2025. The Objection is based on the grounds of exhaustion of remedies, avoidance and ripeness. 2. This is in respect to the Notice of Motion Application dated 29/5/2026 and the Petition itself. 3. I discussed this issue in detail in a similar matter being Bomet High Court Constitution Petition No. E005 of 2026. The matter raised similar issues as the instant herein. 4. For the above reasons, I do find that the instant Application and the Petition ought to be handled in the same manner. During my session in open court I referred parties to this ruling which is well within their knowledge. I find no need to reproduce it herein. 5. The conduct of business of the Respondents ought to be guided by their Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Company Act and their Election Guidelines. 6. The guidelines also provide for Dispute Resolution Mechanism. 7. At the moment this mechanism has not been utilized. 8. I have taken into consideration the issue raised by the Applicants of injustice by the Directors but they ought to address such in their rules and guidelines through their meetings. 9. It is for the above reasons that I do find that the objection herein has merit. 10. In the end the Preliminary Objection dated 15/6/2026 is allowed. The Notice of Motion dated 29/5/2026 is struck out alongside the Petition herein dated even date. Each party to bear its own costs. RULING DELIVERED VIA CTS AT BOMET ON THIS 30TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026. …………………………………………… HON. J.K.NG’ARNG’AR JUDGE 30/6/2026 Before CA:Siele J.K.Koech for the Applicants Kipkorir for the Respondents https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2026/9268/eng@2026-06-30 3
page 3 of 3