Woman who stripped naked in court wins land case

A woman who stripped naked in court twice had the last laugh after the Nakuru Succession Court vacated an order restraining her from possessing and distributing her late mother’s plot.

Angeline Jepkemoi and her husband have been fighting since 2009 to repossess a parcel distribution in Bondeni estate from her cousin Robert Tanui.

Jepkemoi was fighting for administration of the land which her mother Mary Chemerus owned jointly with Tanui.

Tanui said Chemerus was not entitled to the land before she died, despite Jepkemoi having been issued with temporary grant on the land.

Tanui went to court to claim the possession of the land, saying Chemerus obtained the land fraudulently and thus the woman and the husband will fraudulently inherit the land.

He also prayed to court to restrain Jepkemoi from administering the land and distributing it.

On November 25, 2011, the High Court ordered the rectification of the certificate of confirmation of grant issued to Jepkemoi.

The court also issued an order restraining the woman from administration of the land pending the determination of the suit filed by Tanui.

The suit filed in Environment and Lands Court (ELC) was dismissed on January 25, 2018, but the restraining orders were not addressed.

Jepkemoi moved to court and made an application for the court to set aside the restraining orders.

Justice Anthony Ndung’u vacated the orders.

“I accordingly vacate the orders restraining Jepkemoi, the administrator of the estate of Chemerus from distributing parcel number Nakuru/Municipality Block 13/312,” he ruled.

“The administrator is at liberty to apply in respect of furtherance of the administration of the estate herein.”

He added that since the suit against the woman was dismissed, then the restraining orders should be vacated.

“The ELC suit was determined in favour of the administrator. The interest of justice would demand the vacation of the restraining orders to give effect to the certificate of confirmation of grant issued to Jepkemoi and facilitate finalisation of the administration of the estate,” he said. 

Prior to the ruling, the woman had caused commotions to the court after her case was occasionally deferred.

On January 16, 2019, the court was treated to drama after she stripped naked in front of judge Ndung'u.

Justice Ndung’u had been expected to rule on the matter that day but he said he needed more time and asked to do the necessary yesterday.

On hearing the news, Ms Jepkemoi broke into tears and started pulling her hair. She resorted to shouting as she undressed to the shock of everybody inside the courtroom.

Justice Ndung’u quickly left the court, as orderlies surrounded Jepkemoi and forced her to dress before moving her from the room.

The woman began to strip, again, in the corridor. She only stopped after she was warned by officers that she would be held in contempt of court and risked being imprisoned.

After she had dressed and calmed down, Jepkemoi and her husband were escorted from the court.