Mbeya v Okata (Miscellaneous Application E006 of 2026) (14 May 2026) (Directions) [2026] KEELC 2908 (KLR)
The bottom line
#The Environment and Land Court cannot rebuild a missing High Court file — only the High Court itself can direct that reconstruction.
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 Environment and Land Court can order reconstruction of a file originating in the High Court, Kisumu HCC No. 219 of 1999(B)
Key legal issues
#Proper forum for reconstruction of a missing High Court file
The ELC cannot order reconstruction of a High Court file in its own registry; the matter belongs before the High Court.
The court perused the Notice of Motion dated 19th February 2026 and its supporting affidavit and annexures, which showed the file sought to be reconstructed was Kisumu HCC No. 219 of 1999(B), a High Court file reported missing at the High Court Registry. Since there was no evidence the file was ever transferred to the ELC, an order for reconstruction in the ELC registry would be futile. In the interest of justice, noting the applicant acted in person, the ruling was deferred and the file referred to the High Court.
Legal principles established
#- A missing High Court file cannot be ordered reconstructed in the ELC registry absent evidence of transfer to the Environment and Land Court
Court orders
#- 1.Ruling on the Notice of Motion dated 19th February 2026 deferred
- 2.The file be placed before the Honourable Judge, High Court Kisumu for appropriate directions and/or action
The bench
#One judgment of the whole court — no separate or dissenting opinions.
Wrote the judgment
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Environment and Land Court jurisdiction over the application; file found to belong to the High Court (no constitutional/statutory provision expressly cited)
Relief refused
#Order for reconstruction of the file in the ELC registry
The file sought to be reconstructed is a High Court file and there is no evidence it was transferred to the ELC
Costs
No costs order made in the directions
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.
As there is no evidence that the file has ever been transferred to the Environment and Land Court, an order that the file be reconstructed in the ELC registry will be futile.
the ruling on the application is deferred and directions hereby given that this file be placed before the Honourable Judge High Court Kisumu for appropriate directions and/or action.
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "Mbeya v Okata (Miscellaneous Application E006 of 2026) (14 May 2026) (Directions) [2026] KEELC 2908 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2026). Miscellaneous Application E006 of 2026. Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2026/2908/eng@2026-05-14
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.