Chege & another v Kibui (Environment and Land Case 1257 of 2016) [2026] KEELC 2015 (KLR)
The bottom line
#The Environment and Land Court refused to pause a long-running land case while an appeal is prepared, because pausing it would unfairly delay the other side's day in court.
What this practically means
#Executive summary
#Questions the Court framed
#The issues the Court set itself to decide, in its own words.
- 1.Whether the Applicant has demonstrated that the intended appeal is arguable
- 2.Whether the intended appeal would be rendered nugatory if a stay of proceedings is not granted
- 3.Whether the interests of justice favour a stay of proceedings pending appeal
Key legal issues
#Whether the threshold for a stay of proceedings pending appeal was met
The court declined to grant the stay because the impugned ruling merely restored the matter for hearing on its merits, and continuation of the proceedings would not render the intended appeal nugatory
The court applied the stringent test for stay of proceedings, requiring the Applicant to show an arguable appeal and that the appeal would be rendered nugatory absent a stay. The ruling of 3rd July 2025 had merely set aside an ex parte judgment and restored the suit for hearing on the merits; it ordered no execution, eviction or irreversible step. If the appeal succeeds, appropriate remedies remain available. Staying proceedings would instead delay a dispute pending since 2016 and impede the Respondent's right to be heard on the merits.
Legal principles established
#- Stay of proceedings is a drastic judicial action that interferes with a litigant's right to conduct litigation and access to justice, and the test for granting it is high and stringent
- In deciding whether to order a stay of proceedings, the Court weighs the need for expeditious disposal of cases, the prima facie merits (arguability) of the intended appeal, and the overall interests of justice
Court orders
#- 1.The Notice of Motion dated 21st July 2025 is dismissed with costs to the Respondent
The bench
#One judgment of the whole court — no separate or dissenting opinions.
Wrote the judgment
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Order 42 Rule 6, Order 51 Rule 1 of the Civil Procedure Rules, Sections 1A, 1B and 3A of the Civil Procedure Act
Relief refused
#Stay of proceedings in ELC 1257 of 2016 pending hearing and determination of the 1st Plaintiff's appeal in the Court of Appeal
The impugned ruling merely restored the suit for hearing on its merits and did not order any irreversible step; the Applicant failed to demonstrate that the appeal would be rendered nugatory
Costs
The Notice of Motion dated 21st July 2025 is dismissed with costs to the Respondent
Quotable passages
#Verbatim from the judgment, each located to the page it appears on in the official PDF — so these can be cited and checked directly.
Stay of proceedings is a grave judicial action which seriously interferes with the right of a litigant to conduct his litigation. It impinges on the right of access to justice, right to be heard without delay and overall, right to fair trial. Therefore, the test for stay of proceedings is high and stringent.
I am not therefore persuaded that allowing the suit to proceed to hearing would render the intended appeal nugatory.
Accordingly, the Notice of Motion dated 21st July 2025 is devoid of merit and is hereby dismissed with costs to the Respondent.
Issues in the judgment
#The Respondent's Replying Affidavit is described as sworn on 15th December 2025, while the application is dated 21st July 2025 and was apparently argued and determined on 12th February 2026; the December 2025 date is internally consistent with the delivery date but the chronology spans an unusually long period for an interlocutory application
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "Chege & another v Kibui (Environment and Land Case 1257 of 2016) [2026] KEELC 2015 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2026). ELC 1257 of 2016. Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2026/2015/eng@2026-02-12
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.