Nthatu & another v Director Land Adjudication and Settlement Oficer & 5 others; Karikamburi Primary School & 4 others (Interested Parties) (Environment and Land Petition E001 of 2024) [2026] KEELC 1138 (KLR) (24 February 2026) (Ruling) Neutral citation: [2026] KEELC 1138 (KLR) REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LAND COURT AT CHUKA ENVIRONMENT AND LAND PETITION E001 OF 2024 BM EBOSO, J FEBRUARY 24, 2026 BETWEEN JOHN KAMAKIA NTHATU .......................................................... 1ST PETITIONER EZEKIEL MAGOCHI NTHATU .................................................... 2ND PETITIONER AND THE DIRECTOR LAND ADJUDICATION AND SETTLEMENT OFFICER ......................................................................................... 1ST RESPONDENT THE LAND ADJUDICATION AND SETTLEMENT OFFICER, THARAKA NORTH ........................................................................................... 2ND RESPONDENT THE LAND ADUDICATION AND SETTLEMENT OFFICER, GATUNGA ADJUDICATION SECTION ........................................................ 3RD RESPONDENT THE DISTRICT LAND REGISTRAR, GATUNGA ................. 4TH RESPONDENT DIRECTOR, SURVEY .................................................................. 5TH RESPONDENT THE HON ATTORNEY GENERAL ........................................... 6TH RESPONDENT AND KARIKAMBURI PRIMARY SCHOOL ................................ INTERESTED PARTY SECONDARY SCHOOL .......................................................... INTERESTED PARTY TRUSTEES ................................................................................ INTERESTED PARTY SIMON MUTHENGI ............................................................... INTERESTED PARTY JACOB KATHENGE ................................................................ INTERESTED PARTY https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2026/1138/eng@2026-02-24 1
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RULING (Ex-Tempore) 1. The court has considered the petitioners’ oral request for viva voce evidence in this petition. This petition challenges awards made by adjudicatory organs established under the Land Adjudication Act. Jurisdiction to make merit determinations on questions relating to ownership of land that is the subject of adjudication under the Land Adjudication Act is vested in various ownership dispute resolution organs established under the Act. This court only exercises jurisdiction to deal with disputes relating to procedure. 2. Given the above context, the court cannot see a proper basis for the petitioners’ insistence on viva voce hearing of the petition. The view of the court is that the petitioners can properly ventilate their case through afidavit evidence and written submissions. 3. In this regard, the petitioners will have leave to file two supplementary afidavits relating to the two parcels to ventilate whatever additional issues they wish to ventilate. The plea for viva voce evidence is rejected. DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT CHUKA THIS 24TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026. B M EBOSO [MR] JUDGE In the Presence of: Mr. Kithinji for the Petitioners Mr. Mugambi Nyaga for the Respondents and for the 1st and 2nd Interested Parties. Mr. Wachira for the 4th and 5th Interested Parties. 3rd Interested Party – Absent Court Assistant – Nelly https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2026/1138/eng@2026-02-24 2
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