The Attorney General wants a land dispute between the Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) and the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) to be resolved by the Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT).
During the Preliminary Objection hearing on Tuesday, lawyer Martin Munene, appearing for AG Dorcas Oduor, said the tribunal had the jurisdiction to hear the case.
Attorney General Dorcas Oduor addresses journalists during the unveiling of the Government Critical Litigation and Loss Mitigation Review Committee on May 29, 2025 at the State Law Office in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
The AG was responding to the RFUEA’s objection, which challenged the SDT’s jurisdiction to hear the case on the grounds that it concerns properties and not sports disputes.
SDT chairman Bernard Murunga later adjourned the hearing to February 3, following an application by RFUEA lawyer Ivia Kitonga.
Kitonga stated that he had not reviewed the response to the preliminary objection filed by KRU lawyer Ray Olendo, as he had only been served on the afternoon of the hearing. He said it would be prejudicial to his case if he were to proceed without reviewing the documents.
A demand by RFUEA for KRU to pay millions of shillings in rent sparked the dispute over ownership of RFUEA’s 10-acre land along Ngong Road, which houses KRU and Kenya Harlequin Rugby.
On March 3 last year, RFUEA chairman George Kariuki demanded that KRU pay Sh16.8 million in rent arrears or face eviction from the venue.
This prompted KRU to seek legal redress from SDT, claiming ownership and charging that the RFUEA had refused to grant them documents for the land despite many attempts.
Through its lawyers Olendo and Samba Advocates, KRU challenged the order at the SDT, arguing that the RFUEA had ceased to exist and that the land had been donated by the government for the development of local rugby.
KRU wants ownership of the land transferred to its trustees and for RFUEA to be declared non-existent, as it has failed to hold elections for over 25 years and is thus unable to legally hold property in Kenya.
KRU wants ownership of the ground transferred to the names of its trustees and that RFUEA be declared non-existent and thus unable to legally hold property in Kenya after failing to hold elections for over 25 years.
Richard Omwela addressing the media after retaining his position as the Kenya Rugby Union chairman on March 22, 2017. PHOTO | AYUMBA AYODI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The law firm applied for restraining orders on October 18. That is when Murunga issued a temporary injunction restraining RFUEA and its trustees, George Kariuki, Richard Omwela and Richard Njoba from making demands on KRU, Registrar of Sports and their agents from demanding Sh 16.8 million or any rent on November 24, 2025, pending hearing.
Murunga also issued a temporary injunction restraining them from interfering with the KRU’s possession and use of Land Parcel No. 209/4529 as its rugby headquarters and use for the national team’s preparation and hosting of international matches and events pending the hearing.
